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Portable message signs make capital roads safer

ABU DHABI — Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has installed 40 state-of-the-art Portable Variable Message Signs (PVMS) as a first stage in this service to enhance emirate-wide road safety, the DoT announced on Sunday.

Visible from a distance of up to 300 meters, the wheeled hydraulic portable devices can be easily positioned. PVMS are commonly used globally to provide drivers with warnings and up-to-date information on road and travel conditions and have proven to be very effective in reducing speeds and preventing crashes.

The PVMS is being used as a short-term solution until permanent VMS and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are installed possibly within the next three years.

The equipment will initially be installed on the Abu Dhabi–Dubai and Abu Dhabi–Al Ain highways and will provide digital messages in both Arabic and English.

The PVMS are to be used for the upcoming Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2010 as it was previously used by the DoT for the Formula 1 2009, and FIFA Club World Cup 2009, which was held at the Zayed Sports City and Mohammed bin Zayed stadiums.

Engineer Faisal Ahmed Al Suwaidi, General Director of Main Roads, DoT, said unlike typical static signs, PVMS can provide critical and timely advice to drivers based on prevailing conditions such as bad weather, ongoing roadwork, heavy traffic congestion, and crashes.

Abu Dhabi’s transport infrastructure is currently undergoing extensive development and thus requires the latest technologies and strategies to maintain safety in work zones, parking areas and venues, Al Suwaidi said.

PVMS will display various messages such as ‘Accident Slow Down,’ ‘Dense Fog Ahead,’ and ‘Road Closed’ under three categories depending on urgency.

Messages can be displayed in one to four lines of characters, symbols or animations and are input, computers and other wireless devices.

The portable signs are solar, battery and generator-powered, and highly resistant to extreme temperatures and various weather conditions, and come with a security and anti-
theft system.

The DoT is working closely with the Abu Dhabi Police to raise public awareness on PVMS, enforce the use of the devices, and provide the proper messages to drivers. The equipment will be maintained by a separate contractor who will be directed by both the DoT and the Abu Dhabi Police.

anwar@khaleejtimes.com