FOG-RELATED traffic pile-ups could be severely reduced if new plans currently being considered by Abu Dhabi Police are given the green light.
The plans involve early warning street lamps, positioned along the roadside, that would immediately inform drivers in foggy conditions of an accident some way ahead.
The innovation, if implemented successfully, will serve as a pre-emptive measure to warn drivers to take caution at least three kilometres ahead of the area where a traffic accident has occurred.
Lt Colonel Nasser Al Maskari, head of the Operations Department, said that the “innovation” will not prevent traffic accidents, but will help to prevent ‘chain-reaction’ pile-ups during foggy weather conditions.
“The aim of such an innovative proposal, which was devised by the Operations Department at the Directorate General of Central Operations, is to provide an optimal warning for drivers within seconds of a traffic accident a few kilometres ahead on external roads, to avoid eventual surprises in foggy weather,” Lt Colonel Al Maskari said.
More specific details were provided by engineer Osama Ahmed Ismail. He said: “It is a special incandescent light connected to a wireless electronic device controller, installed at three kilometre intervals at roadsides of external roads. It releases an incandescent red light that is designed to penetrate the fog. Drivers can see this warning light as far ahead, at least three kilometres ahead of potential traffic accidents.
“The Operations Room officer controls the incandescent street light from a safe area ahead of the traffic accident’s location, 20 seconds after receiving notification on the 999 number, indicating that a traffic accident had occurred. The officer identifies the geographic coordinates of the accident’s site and turns on the electronic street lights close to the accident’s site on roads. This would warn drivers against a traffic accident ahead of them in order to avoid chain-reaction collision of vehicles.”
