Speaking to the Federal National Council (FNC), the UAE traffic authorities have clarified that there are no plans to unify speed limits on roads across the country.
The speed buffer will continue to be in place as they have been designed depending on traffic flow to each emirate.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan told FNC members that traffic authorities have established speed limits on various roads as per the technical reports by the road and traffic engineers in each emirate based on vehicle movement and traffic flow on these roads.
“The safety of people is the most important and it is always our top priority,” Sheikh Saif said.
The Minister said this when responding to questions from FNC member Adnan al Hammadi regarding different speed limits on certain roads, like for instance, on Emirates Road the speed varies from RAK to Dubai with limit violators liable to different amounts of fine.
He also pointed out that the minimum speed limits on certain highways was 60km/hr, and this is very low in comparison to maximum speed allowed and emphasized that this might disrupt the flow of traffic.
To avoid further confusion or unnecessary fines, Al Hammadi said that the speed buffer should be cancelled on all roads in the UAE.
The speed buffer system has been in place in the UAE for some time now and, motorists are permitted to drive an additional 20km/hr speed over what is written on the road signs.
In the year 2018, Abu Dhabi did away with the buffer system, but the case has been so with all other emirates.
The Deputy Chairman of the Federal Traffic Council, Brig. Hussein al Harthi said that the speed limits have been established in a manner that suits the economic movement and commercial transport in certain areas.
Brig. Hussein Al Harthi, Deputy Chairman of the Federal Traffic Council, said the speed limits were set in a way that suits the economic movement and commercial transport in certain areas.
For example, in Dubai, the number of vehicles are much more in comparison to other emirates, including several lorries plying on various roads having designated lanes, said Harthi, adding that the number of vehicles in Dubai roads constitute 48.6 percent of the total number of cars in the UAE.
