Latest news with #traffic
The National
23 minutes ago
- Automotive
- The National
Smart planning is the key to solving traffic congestion as the UAE grows
As Dubai's skyline stretches ever higher and its population surges steadily upwards, its roads increasingly show the signs of this extraordinary growth. As many metropolises have discovered, living in a city on the move can often mean spending a large amount of time in stationary traffic. While congestion on the roads may be avvvvn inevitable symptom of societal boom times, it can nonetheless bear a heavy cost for everyone. In public-messaging campaigns, the focus is often on safety; it is well-established that congestion can lead to accidents. But there is a range of other – often very expensive – externalities. Congestion reduces the productivity of the labour force, inflates transport costs (and, by extension, the price of other services and goods) and increases carbon emissions from idle exhaust fumes. There is also a mental toll: last year, Dubai drivers lost nearly a day and a half of time that could have been spent doing other things sitting instead in unusually high traffic. Few cities, moreover, have grown as quickly as Dubai, where the population has doubled in the past 15 years. Nearby Abu Dhabi, for its part, has grown by 50 per cent in the past decade, with 7.5 per cent population growth last year alone. In the Northern Emirates, a host of development projects are expected to raise investment and resident numbers in the coming years. Consequently, authorities have had to plan quickly to ensure that transport infrastructure can keep up. In recent weeks, an ambitious portfolio of projects and planning initiatives has been announced to that end. This week, the UAE unveiled a Dh750 million ($204 million) expansion of Emirates Road, a key artery linking Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The project, announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, will add three lanes in each direction across a 16-kilometre stretch, boosting the road's capacity to 12,000 vehicles per hour and offering relief to hundreds of thousands of daily commuters. Last year, Dubai drivers lost nearly a day and a half of time that could have been spent doing other things The announcement came on the heels of another major investment: a Dh633 million ($172 million) plan to upgrade roads in Dubai's financial district. The project will cut congestion on one of the city's busiest routes, the portion of Al Mustaqbal Street stretching from Zabeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street, via three tunnels, a bridge and a lane-expansion. The result will be a better commuter experience for thousands of people who move in and out of Downtown Dubai every day. These projects are part of a wider constellation of efforts towards integrated urban planning to future-proof the country. The UAE is increasingly leveraging technology, data and design to not only manage congestion but also enhance safety and sustainability. Smart traffic signals, dynamically priced toll roads, improved pedestrian zones and the development of public transit networks are all part of this strategy. Solving the problem of congestion is not easy. But the tools UAE cities are using to tackle it are the right ones. And the level of investment being pumped into transport infrastructure provides plenty of cause for optimism that the way ahead is clear.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Aussies lash out at drivers over an infuriating act on the road
Aussies have lashed a group of drivers who appeared to block the path of an ambulance flashing its lights and sirens as it tried to move through an intersection. Rows of cars were banked up behind a red light on the Gold Coast Highway at Cypress Avenue in Surfers Paradise, while an ambulance desperately tried to pass. The paramedics, accompanied by an emergency motorcycle, had already travelled about 50m through the traffic jam. Cars further down the road had already moved toward the edges of their lanes to allow the ambulance through. However, the cars at the front of the queue barely moved, blocking the emergency vehicle's path as they waited for the light to turn green. The ambulance managed to eventually pass when a turning lane light went green, allowing it to skirt around traffic. The footage was uploaded to Facebook, with countless Aussies slamming the drivers who weren't quick enough to get out of the way. 'The issue is that no one gets out the way, including those vehicles not directly in front of the (ambulance),' one viewer wrote. 'How would you like it if the (ambulance) was late to your relative because they waited for the lights to go green?' 'This infuriates me. Lights and sirens means just move safely out of the f***ing way,' another said. 'It's painful,' another agreed. 'The only time drivers are worried they'll get a ticket for going through a red light,' wrote one. An emergency driving instructor said the ambulance 'should turn off their siren and wait'. 'Should a collision occur as a result of their action they are potentially liable,' they said. 'In the situation they're in there, it is likely they will absorb so much of the other drivers' attention that few if any will notice when the light changes, creating a longer delay and greater risk than waiting patiently.' A highway patrol officer and high speed driving instructor disagreed. 'It is a condition of your driver's licence to make way for emergency vehicles,' he said. 'Personally, I think the the driver did a fantastic job, and the public were able to make a safe - although slow - thoroughfare. Some confusion, no doubt. 'It must have been an urgent enough job to continue - (like a) cardiac arrest - where seconds count. Well done to the driver, and well done to the public for abiding by their conditions of licence and creating safe passage.' Motorists are advised to 'merge left or proceed through the red light only if it is safe to do so,' according to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Inhibiting the progress of emergency vehicles carries tough penalties in Queensland. They include $389 fines for moving into the path of an emergency vehicle, and failing to move out of the way of a vehicle with its sirens on. Drivers can also cop $500 fines for unsafely passing a lit-up and parked emergency vehicle.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Sections of Arcola Ave, University Park Drive to Ring Road closed after crash
Regina Police Service (RPS) are asking drivers to avoid the westbound traffic lanes between Arcola Ave. and University Park Drive as officers investigate a vehicle accident. (Sierra D'Souza Butts/CTV News) Regina Police Service (RPS) are asking drivers to avoid the Arcola Avenue and University Park Drive westbound lanes to Ring Road as an investigation continues. Early Tuesday evening, police responded to a single vehicle collision in the area. Officers were present at the scene - while a motorcycle was also spotted in the area. Regina Fire and Protective Services and EMS were also on site. RPS says more details will be provided as they become available.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Multi-vehicle crash blocks eastbound I-80 in Sacramento's South Natomas
A multi-vehicle crash is heavily impacting traffic Tuesday evening on eastbound Interstate 80 in the South Natomas area of Sacramento. Sacramento Fire said all eastbound lanes are blocked near the northbound Interstate 5 interchange. Sacramento Fire also responded to the scene and said it happened around 5:15 p.m. The department said there were multiple people injured. It's not yet clear when the freeway will be cleared. This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Multi-vehicle crash blocks northbound I-5 in Sacramento's South Natomas
A multi-vehicle crash is heavily impacting traffic Tuesday evening on northbound Interstate 5 in the South Natomas area of Sacramento. California Highway Patrol's North Sacramento division said all northbound lanes are blocked near the eastbound Interstate 80 interchange. Sacramento Fire also responded to the scene and said it happened around 5:15 p.m. The department said there were multiple people injured. It's not yet clear when the freeway will be cleared. This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
