Reducing Traffic in Dubai City - Research Paper Example

Running Head: REDUCING TRAFFIC JAM IN DUBAI CITY NAME: COURSE: INSTRUCTOR: DATE: Reducing Traffic Jam in Dubai City Dubai is a small region that is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has been governed all along by Supreme Council of Rulers since it was formed in 1971. UAE is one of the leading producers of oil in the world and for that case; its economy has been growing quickly due to its boomed oil business. UAE have used its revenues to create a very good and unique economy in that region of Middle East. Building of infrastructure, tourism projects (Jones, 2006), health care facilities and education systems in Dubai are just some of the benefits of oil revenues. Dubai city is now a leading regional commercial center with a world class business environment. Due to its strategic location, strong economy, and tax-free living, Dubai is the best place for employment seekers (skilled professionals), tourist, and multinationals targeting markets in Middle East and Central Asia (ABC News). Therefore, Dubai is a considered the focal point for global trade, finance, and tourism. And because everybody is heading to Dubai for greener pastures, there is a rapid growth of the population in that region too. As a result of this, more cars in Dubai roads taking students to school or taking employees to work places have created a problem of traffic congestion. For the purpose of this paper, I will be arguing a problem that we stumble upon on everyday basis while going to and coming back from work and school which is being stuck in traffic jam for hours and hours. My idea, for this paper, is to investigate possible ways to reduce the traffic congestion in and around Dubai city that we face in every day basis and my job is to analyze the cause(s) that could help to understand and eliminate the traffic jams once and for all. Even though Dubai is one of the most modern cities in the Middle East, it is horribly facing a problem of traffic jam. Many residents and students spend hours and hours stuck in traffic every day when going to work. School students most of the times spend as much time in the jam as that when they are in their class rooms. Those who go to school or work in Dubai most of the time have the same work timings in the start and end of their work day. So this shows that many people wants to get to their work place on time and leaves at the same time for school or work creates a traffic congestion problem. This is a very complex problem with many severe causes and effects. Causes Due to a booming economy of UAE, Dubai has been growing at such a fast pace that the roads and traffic maintenance rules and regulations are falling far behind to keep up, hence traffic jam problems. There are many reasons why Traffic Jams are so common in Dubai roads. The higher number of cars is one of the main reasons of this problem. As mentioned above, the growing population and the rapid developments of UAE economy; as a result we can conclude that many families in UAE can afford to own more than three cars. This is what causes traffic congestion in the streets. For instance, instead of using public transport or driving together in one big car to work or to school, most residence of Dubai and students prefers riding their own cars instead of using public transport or school buses. This is because many locals of Dubai do not like the idea of using buses and taxis because they believe that public transport are only meant for other nationalities like Nigeria or Bangladesh for example. In Dubai there are limited or no alternative ways/routes to use while going to work. For instance if you live in Sharjah and work in Dubai (Oxford Business Group, 2008), you have no choice but you have to use The Emirates Road in order to reach your place of work. There are no short cuts in Dubai itself and people are having trouble reaching their work fast. The lack of proper parking places within Dubai city is another cause of traffic jam. For instance, people just park their cars on the side of the road or street because all parking places around a particular building are occupied and this in turn leads to a more limited space for traffic to flow, hence traffic jam. Rough drivers are one of the contributing assets of traffic jam in Dubai city. Accidents do occur more often and not surprising as Rough drivers are on the wheel. Accidents do not just happen with cause but are always caused by rough drivers and their unsafe maneuvers. Effects People: The traffic jams has affected negatively to people time and health. Sitting in your car for long hours because of traffic jams is believe to be the reason that contribute to back pain and knee injuries to motorist. Also there have been cases where drivers get irritated or show negative reaction to other road users because of the pressure and tension cause by traffic jam which has increase road accidents. Economic: Traffic jam has significantly affected the efficiency of the worker and production in many ways. For example, working people getting late now and then will eventually find their salaries not enough and may find themselves doing over time work in order to compensate for the lost time. The student on the other hand will be in trouble with their arrears in the university and college just because of traffic jam. Also, very important people who are considered as economic drivers of a country will be late for their flight and might miss it. This is an example of how one accident can cause a traffic jam and a wasted their very important time and money. Environment: Traffic congestion has a main effect on the environment as the greenhouse gases that are emitted from motor vehicles is the main reason for the Ozone hole and diseases that have troubled humans, including heart diseases and asthma. Solutions: The Government and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have proposed many solutions to improve the traffic jam issues in Dubai city in the last few years. They have developed a lot of projects to reduce traffic congestion in the streets. Building new bridges, high ways, alternative routes, and building special roads just for buses and taxis will reduce the number vehicles on the roads (Rettab and Bakheel, 2005). Some of construction projects proposed by the government and RTA are and not limited to; 1. Construction of 500km road network with more than 96 bridges. 2. Expansion of the Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road and Emirates Road. Outer Bypass Road is part of these new projects. 3. Transforming number roundabouts to intersections within the city. 4. New roads constructions are in progress to connect to new areas e.g. Nad Al Hamer road. 5. 15 main roads are also being improved. 6. Creation of roadway signs, street lighting, and protection of utility lines. 7. Construction of a utility crossing and storm-water drainage systems. 8. The roads department is planning to replace all the interchanges on Shaikh Zayed Road and this will allow traffic to flow smoothly. Another main project that the government and RTA have been focusing on reducing the traffic jams is that of the Public transportation/Buses and the metro. As it is very hard to persuade the general public to use public transport, one possible way of encouraging them is by introducing roads and fuel taxes. This would reduce the number of people using their own private cars and could help reduce traffic congestion (Nick, 2006). For example, if about 30 cars can take 60 people to their destinations, then a single bus is more proficient because it can accommodate up to 60 people resulting in 30 less cars on the highway. So RTA has to provide buses that pass by the neighbor hoods in order to pick up the people and school children who want to ride the metro instead of driving to the their destinations. Example of the public buses in Dubai city: Articulated buses Double deicer Water bus The buses generally have help to take some pressure off the roads and make easier for some people to reach to work in time. RTA also has come up with many different projects in which some of them are currently being used. Examples; Sharking: This is a company’s project for employees to use one vehicle to work place. Awsilny: This is another project where by a company provides a special bus for its employees from different places can Check (Clock) in for work with a special card even if they got caught in traffic jam. This kind of bus brings the employees to work during morning hours and take them back home in the evening. Timing is another factor that the government needs to consider when planning the many projects aimed at reducing traffic jam in the city. If the timing of the works and schools changes, it will solve congestion problem because most of the works and schools timing start at 8:00 o’clock in the morning. For instance, if the government will let the schools timing starts at 9:00 o’clock or so, this will reduce the amount of cars on the streets and roads by 75%. Road pricing initiative is another way of reducing traffic jam. Dubai has launched a congestion charge, called Salik (Arabic for “open”), which has successfully reduced traffic congestion on the Sheikh Zayed Road by 45 per cent. Construction of tollbooths will enable motorist driving through the city to pay a fee. Dubai will have to upgrade to a modern day electronic toll collection (ETC) system. ETC allows drivers to drive in and out of these restricted areas without having to slow or stop to pay. In this kind of system, remote sensors are used to detect cars and automatically debit a motorist’s account as payment for using that particular road. The collected revenues are then used to expand a more efficient transport system. Just like cities in Australia and the US, Dubai has constructed car-pooling lanes. The plan here is to assign one lane of heavily-used high way to vehicles containing two or more person. The idea is to provide an incentive for motorists to take friends to work, thus reducing traffic. Conclusion The condition of traffic jams in and around Dubai city seems to be worsening faster than ever before and there is a need of immediate government attention before it is too late. The most we could do at the moment is train our children to understand and accept public transport as a means of transport. Because this problem has many causes, there is no simple solution to it, but its effects are damaging both our beautiful city and the people who stay there. The government and RTA should try to remedy this problem once and for all. References ABC News. Retrieved on 11 April, 2012 from http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=2941931 www.Gulfnews.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2006. Read More

Causes Due to a booming economy of UAE, Dubai has been growing at such a fast pace that the roads and traffic maintenance rules and regulations are falling far behind to keep up, hence traffic jam problems. There are many reasons why Traffic Jams are so common in Dubai roads. The higher number of cars is one of the main reasons of this problem. As mentioned above, the growing population and the rapid developments of UAE economy; as a result we can conclude that many families in UAE can afford to own more than three cars.

This is what causes traffic congestion in the streets. For instance, instead of using public transport or driving together in one big car to work or to school, most residence of Dubai and students prefers riding their own cars instead of using public transport or school buses. This is because many locals of Dubai do not like the idea of using buses and taxis because they believe that public transport are only meant for other nationalities like Nigeria or Bangladesh for example. In Dubai there are limited or no alternative ways/routes to use while going to work.

For instance if you live in Sharjah and work in Dubai (Oxford Business Group, 2008), you have no choice but you have to use The Emirates Road in order to reach your place of work. There are no short cuts in Dubai itself and people are having trouble reaching their work fast. The lack of proper parking places within Dubai city is another cause of traffic jam. For instance, people just park their cars on the side of the road or street because all parking places around a particular building are occupied and this in turn leads to a more limited space for traffic to flow, hence traffic jam.

Rough drivers are one of the contributing assets of traffic jam in Dubai city. Accidents do occur more often and not surprising as Rough drivers are on the wheel. Accidents do not just happen with cause but are always caused by rough drivers and their unsafe maneuvers. Effects People: The traffic jams has affected negatively to people time and health. Sitting in your car for long hours because of traffic jams is believe to be the reason that contribute to back pain and knee injuries to motorist.

Also there have been cases where drivers get irritated or show negative reaction to other road users because of the pressure and tension cause by traffic jam which has increase road accidents. Economic: Traffic jam has significantly affected the efficiency of the worker and production in many ways. For example, working people getting late now and then will eventually find their salaries not enough and may find themselves doing over time work in order to compensate for the lost time. The student on the other hand will be in trouble with their arrears in the university and college just because of traffic jam.

Also, very important people who are considered as economic drivers of a country will be late for their flight and might miss it. This is an example of how one accident can cause a traffic jam and a wasted their very important time and money. Environment: Traffic congestion has a main effect on the environment as the greenhouse gases that are emitted from motor vehicles is the main reason for the Ozone hole and diseases that have troubled humans, including heart diseases and asthma. Solutions: The Government and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have proposed many solutions to improve the traffic jam issues in Dubai city in the last few years.

They have developed a lot of projects to reduce traffic congestion in the streets. Building new bridges, high ways, alternative routes, and building special roads just for buses and taxis will reduce the number vehicles on the roads (Rettab and Bakheel, 2005). Some of construction projects proposed by the government and RTA are and not limited to; 1. Construction of 500km road network with more than 96 bridges. 2. Expansion of the Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road and Emirates Road. Outer Bypass Road is part of these new projects. 3.

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