Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Dubai Police General HQ, has announced the expansion of the Traffic Incident Management Unit project.

This initiative will integrate four additional main road corridors by the end of 2024, extending coverage from 13 to 17 traffic corridors and streets, totaling 951 km in both directions, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Sunday.

According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, the project aims to minimise secondary accidents, improve traffic flow, and expedite the clearance of vehicles involved in accidents, aligning with global best practices.

“Dubai Police’s roles are rooted in the creation of a cohesive operational system, designed to align with the ambitious future goals of Dubai. This drive is a key component of the Executive Traffic Safety Strategy, which is aligned with the Dubai Strategic Plan and the approved Dubai Traffic Safety Plan. The goal is to position Dubai as a city characterised by safety and stability, where development is built on safeguarding lives and properties,” he said.

The expansion follows the addition of six key corridors and streets at the beginning of the year, bringing the total coverage to 13 corridors and streets.

The project focuses on deploying rapid response vehicles to designated locations for quick intervention, aiming for a response time of 10 minutes and a clearance time of 15 minutes.

The Traffic Incident Management Unit project, carried out in collaboration with various entities including Dubai Police General HQ and Dubai Municipality, has contributed to enhanced traffic safety in the emirate, with a decrease in traffic incidents resulting in injuries and fatalities by 6.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, emphasised the strategic partnership between RTA and Dubai Police, highlighting the project’s role in improving security responses and reducing traffic congestion.

The project is expected to shorten the clearance time for minor incidents by 35 percent and reduce congestion-related expenses by 25 percent.

The collaboration between Dubai Police and Emirates Auction has also led to the removal of thousands of damaged vehicles from the roads, contributing further to traffic safety efforts.

““In line with the Traffic Accident Management Project, the cooperation and partnership with Emirates Auction had contributed to achieving shared objectives for smoother traffic flow and the prompt clearance of damaged vehicles. Over the past two years, these efforts led to the removal of 15,538 vehicles from the roads: 7,316 vehicles in 2022 and 8,222 vehicles in 2023. Additionally, the number of accident reports tallied up to 86,624 reports: 40,925 in 2022 compared to 45,699 reports in 2023. The number of immoderate incidents dropped to 7,435 incidents, with 3,068 occurring in 2022 and 4,367 in 2023. Meanwhile, reports of minor accidents reached 177,134 incidents: 83,131 in 2022 and 94,003 in 2023,” explained Al Marri.