• Home
• /
• UAE

Advanced Dubai 'supervisor' radars to catch road violations

Dubai - The devices can detect violations of the hard shoulder and yellow box markings on the road, among other road offences.

The Dubai Police recently announced the deployment of 70 additional advanced devices to monitor drivers who fail to follow lane markings and intersections.
The advanced cameras called Al Motabea'a (The Supervisor) will extract the vehicle's data and track its location, releasing an immediate warning to the police command and control centre to pursue the car, as reported by Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm.
The additional devices can detect violations of the hard shoulder and yellow box markings on the road, among other road offences. It can also record the violations automatically in the system, without manual help.
The Dubai police will deploy the cylindrical radars as part of the the programme called Rasd ("monitoring" in Arabic). An official said the devices have already been installed in key locations approved by Lt-Gen Khamis Mattar, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.
Lt-Col Khazraj Majed Al Khazraji, director of Dubai Police's Command & Control Centre, said the smart cameras would be used to apprehend violators in criminal cases related to traffic accidents and issues, and for catching drivers who accumulated traffic violations, under the police's Al Mutabee programme.
Less speeding hopefully, say residents
Residents welcomed the new initiative, saying it would contribute to reducing road violations.
Dubai resident Alex Perimov said he has seen some of the additional cameras on the road, adding that the devices would take time to start being effective, as many motorists do not respect safety rules.
"In my opinion, it will take a minimum of five years to see a difference in people's behaviour, depending also how authorities address violators when they are caught."
Perimov said: "You can take away their cars or fine them, but you cannot take away their ability to buy a new car. Tough and clear measures should be taken against violators so they avoid repeating the same mistake."
Mohammad Khalfan, an Iraqi who works in Dubai, said: "The main cause of major traffic accidents is overspeeding, and it's about time the authorities implemented stricter measures to curb speedsters." He added that the new technology used to catch traffic violators will make people think twice "before they push the pedal to the metal."
Yani Razos, a Filipina, said that while she welcomes the additional radars, what is more important is better road safety education for motorists. "They should be aware that speeding kills and that road safety is a necessity. Awareness campaigns should be promoted everywhere and extensively," said Razos.
Abdulrahman Hamad said the implementation of these devices will reduce the nuisance caused by speeding drivers and "force road manners to be followed at all times."
(With inputs from Amira Agarib) reporters@khaleejtimes.com