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It takes only 6 minutes for Dubai unit to respond to accidents

Dubai - The Traffic Incidents Management Unit can also clear an obstruction in less than 15 minutes.

Whether it's a minor crash or a car breakdown in the middle of the road, the recently launched Traffic Incidents Management Unit of Dubai has proven that it can get to an incident site in six minutes and clear an obstruction in less than 15.
This is based on a report that was released by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Saturday, stating that the unit had dealt with over 1,800 incidents on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) Road since its launch in September.
The RTA's Traffic Incidents Management Unit has been formed in partnership with the Dubai Police, the Dubai Municipality, the Traffic Prosecution, the Civil Defence Directorate, and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.
"Thanks to the continuous coordination with the Dubai Police, the unit has hit several performance indicators since it was deployed in the middle of September," said Maitha bin Adai, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency.
"The time taken to send traffic patrols to the accident site was not more than 10 minutes from the receipt of the report. Vehicles are cleared in not more than 15 minutes," Bin Adai said.
Sixty per cent of the recorded traffic accidents were related to light vehicles, while 15 per cent involved heavy vehicles, she added.
Aiming to streamline traffic flow and quickly clear the road of vehicles involved in incidents, the unit has been deployed at five spots that cover the MBZ Road's junction with Al Yalayes, Jebel Ali-Lehbab, Hessa and Tunis Streets, Bin Adai said. The unit is also fitted with towing vehicles and heavy equipment.
Brigadier Mohammed Nasir Al Razooqi, director of the General Department of Transport and Rescue at the Dubai Police, said: "Provisionally, the scheme has yielded good results. The arrival time to the incident site reported was six minutes, and the transport vehicle arrival time was 14 minutes."
Bin Adai, however, clarified that the Traffic Incidents Unit's efficiency is not limited to the clearing of roads.
"The task of the unit extends to include the development of emergency plans for implementation in case the MBZ Road needs to be closed and the traffic has to be diverted to other junctions," she said.
"It will have access to the smart resources for traffic management, including variable speed signs and smart signs on streets to direct motorists when needed."
Study of accidents in Dubai
Based on the best global practices, the traffic management unit's operations have been anchored on a research conducted by a specialist consultant who looked into the accidents in the emirate.
"The study revealed that Dubai roads experience about 250,000 vehicle breakdowns and 200,000 minor accidents every year. According to these inputs, the Traffic Accidents Management Unit will reduce the clearance time of minor accidents by 35 per cent and associated congestions and costs by 25 per cent, besides curbing the rate of secondary accidents," Bin Adai said.
The unit's vehicles that have been deployed were tailored to the objectives set. Reflective colours have been used on their exteriors for them to be easily recognisable even from a distance. They were equipped with lighting, cones and plates, and could recharge batteries, refuel cars, and replace defective tyres.
Each vehicle is also fitted with advanced telecommunication devices that are linked with the command and control room of the Dubai Police.
According to Bin Adai, the scheme is currently on a year-long trial period. After this phase, the agency will be gearing up for an emirate-wide implementation.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com