Speed limit on Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed and Emirates Roads reduced

WAM -- Maximum speed limit on two major highways of Dubai, the Mohammad Bin Zayed road and the Emirates (Bypass) road, has been reduced from 120kmph to 110kmph, with effect from October 15, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Wednesday

The RTA and Dubai Police jointly took the decision to reduce the speed limit on the busy highways following a spate in accidents over the last couple of years.

Motorists have to be wary that as a result of the drop in speed limit the cameras on both the highways will catch the speeding vehicles at 131kmph instead of the current speed of 141kmph.

According to a senior RTA official the drop in speed limit will ensure greater safety and will help curb traffic violations.

“Lowering the speed limits on the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed and Emirates roads is a result of elaborate traffic safety studies and analyses of traffic accident data along with their causes over the past years. It resulted in addressing several traffic safety requirements such as pedestrian bridges, safety rails, and truck lay-by areas,” said Maitha Mohammad Bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.

She added that the decision is mainly intended to curb traffic accidents resulting from speeding, especially as the two roads witness huge volumes of heavy vehicle traffic in both directions.

According to Dubai Police, both the highways have accounted for 39 lives each from the beginning of last year, which forced the authorities to revise the speed limits as at least 60 per cent of the accidents are associated with speeding.