Latest news with #IntelligentTransportSystems
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Royal Oman Police develops AI-driven traffic safety strategy
Muscat – Royal Oman Police (ROP) is introducing new technology, including artificial intelligence- based monitoring, to improve road safety as the number of vehicles and urban expansion place growing pressure on the country's road network. Brig Ali bin Salim al Falahi, Director General of Traffic at ROP, said smart traffic monitoring systems were launched recently and a study is underway of the experiences of other countries in the field of autonomous vehicles to develop a future regulatory framework that suits the Omani environment. 'We are analysing the risks associated with new technologies, such as the safety of autonomous vehicles and legal responsibilities in case of accidents,' he said. Traffic signals are being upgraded to work with Intelligent Transport Systems, while automated monitoring is being enhanced with advanced cameras installed on main roads. ROP works closely with the National Road Safety Committee to develop strategies and guidelines aimed at reducing traffic accidents. Recommendations include development of a national strategy to reduce traffic accidents, nationwide awareness campaigns, school traffic safety courses, and greater involvement of civil society and the private sector. 'Our aim is to enhance traffic culture across all segments of society,' Brig Falahi said. Despite a decline in accidents in recent years, challenges remain. Population growth, the rising number of vehicles and a lack of public transport continue to strain the road network, he added. 'Poor driving habits such as speeding, mobile phone use, unsafe lane change and failure to keep safe distance are key contributors to accidents.' Inadequate vehicle maintenance, he said, also causes breakdowns that can lead to collisions. Brig Falahi informed that traffic safety institutes in governorates provide specialised training for different categories of drivers, including taxi drivers and heavy vehicle operators, besides rehabilitation programmes for traffic offenders. Trainers receive updates in cooperation with specialised agencies. Brig Ali bin Salim al Falahi, Director General of Traffic at ROP School bus drivers are trained under a preventive driving programme run jointly with Ministry of Education, with performance monitored to ensure compliance. 'This has led to improved driver performance and fewer violations,' Brig Falahi informed. ROP has also introduced school-based initiatives such as the 'Road Friends' programme, launched in the 2022/2023 academic year and now expanded to 33 schools. The programme aims to produce a generation aware of road safety rules, with students passing knowledge to peers and families. Digital educational content on traffic safety is being designed for early childhood and primary school students. Awareness campaigns run throughout the year, including khareef in Dhofar, targeting both residents and visitors. Brig Falahi said the decrease in accidents in recent years is due to better driver awareness, improved infrastructure and continuous public education. 'Traffic safety is a shared responsibility that requires the commitment of individuals, society, and institutions to reduce accidents and protect lives and property.'
Khaleej Times
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Is it a bird? Is it a dragon? No, it's a flying taxi
Exciting times are ahead for UAE residents and tourists as they can soon skip long commutes and arduous traffic by taking it to the sky with the expected arrival of flying taxis in the 'coming months'. An initial fleet of Midnight, aircraft also known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, by US manufacturer Archer is set to arrive in Abu Dhabi later this year. Archer will be the first company in the UAE to launch flying taxi operations. Midnight can carry up to four passengers plus the pilot. It is designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights. The usual 60-90-minute commute by car is significantly reduced to just 10-30 minutes between different emirates of the UAE. In September last year, Khaleej Times reported Dubai will also have flying taxis up and soaring over the city in the last quarter of 2025. The assurance was made by Tyler Trerotola, general manager of California-based air-taxi company Joby Aviation, during the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress and Exhibition in Dubai. Joby's eVTOL vehicles can also carry four passengers plus a pilot and travel up to 200 miles per hour. What is more exciting is that the rapid, short-haul transit are zero-emission flights because they are all-electric. Trerotola earlier told Khaleej Times that they have pushed ahead with the planned launch of Joby's electric air taxi from 2026 to end of 2025. He noted a typical journey from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take only 10 minutes by air taxi, unlike approximately 45 minutes by car. He also confirmed that Joby is working to integrate first- and last-mile ridesharing services to move customers from their point of origin and bring them to any of the four vertiports across Dubai, then from the vertiport to their last stop. Vertiports are designated areas for takeoff, landing, and servicing of flying taxis. The UAE's first commercial vertiport for flying taxis is named Dubai International Vertiport (DXV). It is being constructed near Dubai International Airport (DXB). It is the first of four vertiports being developed by Skyports in collaboration with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Joby Aviation. The three other vertiports will be located in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina. Vertiports will be constructed at three key locations in Abu Dhabi, including Al Bateen, Yas Island, and Khalifa Port. LODD, an Abu Dhabi-based company specialising in AI-powered drone technology and autonomous aerial logistics, and Skyports Infrastructure made the announcement at the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) in February this year. How much is the fare? Khaleej Times earlier reported the cost to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in a flying taxi is expected to be Dh800 to Dh1,500; while fares within the emirate of Dubai could be around Dh350. Under the agreement with Abu Dhabi, Archer will manufacture Midnight in the UAE to supply it to the wider region. Archer said it will work with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and its other established partners in the region to launch electric air taxis. Tretola (from Joby) for his part did not reveal the price point for taking a flying taxi in Dubai, noting it will be dependent on market demand. 'But we will scale up the market to get to a point where the fare will come down,' he added, emphasising: 'We are offering a premium service.' How loud can it get? 'It's just like the sound of rainfall,' Tretola noted, as he assured air taxis – designed to fly customers across the city any time of the day – will not make much of a noise unlike regular helicopters. Flying taxis registered only 45 decibels during trials – 'much like the sound of rainfall'. How safe are they? With regards to flight safety, Tretola told Khaleej Times they have done about 60,000km test flights. 'Pilots who will fly the air taxis are commercial pilots trained in the US,' he added, noting they have yet to announce the number of pilots and air taxis that will initially be made available. Archer Aviation earlier conducted more than 400 test flights of 'Midnight' in preparation for their launch. The company, which will operate the taxis, conducted 402 tests in the first eight months, surpassing their target of 400 test runs four months ahead of the schedule set for 2025. Archer added its personnel will work with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) to fly Midnight in the coming months in the UAE and is aiming for a passenger flight in Abu Dhabi later this year. The two will also collaborate across pilot training, flight operations and community engagement as well. Archer also plans to provide ADA with a team of pilots, technicians and engineers to support the initial operational ramp, helping ensure a safe and efficient deployment. Archer will provide backend software infrastructure and front-end booking applications during the launch programme. How flying taxis will change urban mobility Flying taxis will definitely redefine urban mobility and set global benchmarks for integrating emerging aviation technologies. The UAE for its part is being seen as an increasingly attractive market for eVTOL or flying vehicles because of its push for new technologies and vision to have smart cities. In Dubai, dedicated lanes for autonomous vehicles, including a dedicated flight path for aerial taxis, are being studied, said Ahmed Mahboob, CEO of the RTA's corporate administrative support services at the recent ITS World Congress. He added Dubai aims to transform 25 per cent of the total transportation across the emirate to autonomous mode by 2030.
