Abstract
The UAE has undergone a continuous economic development, which has seen the standards of living rise. With the rise in standards of living, individuals have managed to purchase cars and shift from public to their personal transport arrangements. The increase in car purchases has also taken place due to the affordability associated with fuel. The affordability has enabled individuals to save on acquiring their personal means of movement within the UAE. With the said rise in living standards and affordability of fuel, the consequent increase in private transport has led to the road traffic congestion in major towns within UAE. Prior to the developments, road traffic congestion did not occur within all towns in the region. However, today the congestion takes place in many towns and cities within the region. Individuals experience the road traffic congestion but wonder around the issue with little ideas of how they may solve the issue. The research topic for this paper revolves around analyzing the experiences of individuals regarding the road traffic congestion. The research outcomes for the research include finding out the individuals who have experienced the road traffic congestion within their daily lives. It also entails to find out the number of commuters who have identified alternative methods of avoiding the road traffic congestions. The research study will also enable the identification of issues, which arise due to the road traffic congestion. Finally, the research study will highlight the public opinion regarding the road traffic congestion.
1.0 Introduction
Road traffic congestion affects many aspects within personal lives and the region’s economy. The time lost through the road traffic congestion further results to a decline in the economy’s performance due to the reduced productivity. UAE being a business hub should identify an approach, which will facilitate the reduction in the road traffic congestion in order to increase on the productivity on individuals who lose person-hours due to the congestions.
2.0 Literature Review
Road traffic congestion within UAE takes place mainly during the peak travel hours. The region has three main peak travel hours, which refer to the periods when most individuals travel. The peak travel hours with the tightest road traffic congestion include 7-9 am, 1-2 pm and the entire evening as from 6pm (Carter, & Dunston, 2007). Within Dubai, the worst congestion takes place along the same hours in Al-Maktoum and Al-Garhoud. The trends indicate that the congestion appears somewhat as an effect of human movement.
The peak hours indicate the periods when large groups of commuters move from home to work between the 7-9 am road traffic congestion, when commuting to have lunch between 1-2 pm and at the closure of daily business activities for the evenings (Vlahides, 2008).
With a predictable trend to these factors, the commuters have made a step closer to the solutions. The congestion also arises from the taxicabs, which ferry individuals within the towns in the region (Carter, & Dunston, 2007). Considering their commercial nature, they move through different places seeking customers.
Briefly, the road traffic congestion within the region occurs due to the mass movement by individuals, which also revolves around the work schedules. Causes of the road traffic congestion within the region do not entirely revolve around the economic growth experienced by the region, but also around the lack of adherence to the regulations within the road traffic departments (Croucher, 2014). Frequent accidents also contribute to the road traffic congestion as commuters stop to help the injured individuals. In addition, the accidents block the highways, which cause the congestion. Travelers who seek to beat the road traffic congestion as they travel apply different approaches such as car-pooling and commuting on odd hours to avoid the congestion associated with traveling during the peak hours (Alameen, 2008).
The heavy road traffic on some roads such as Sheikh Zayed road within Dubai causes road traffic congestion on the linking roads. Road traffic congestion occurs along roads with heavy road traffic because the congestion takes place the extending feeder roads at the junctions. During major events, the road traffic congestion also occurs extensively (Croucher, 2014). However, the road traffic flows smoothly due to the facilitation of the authorities.
Concisely, road traffic congestion results due to accidents and the delays by breakdown service providers to access the accident scenes (Alameen, 2008). Congestion also takes place on roads, which experience heavy road traffic. Road traffic police facilitate the solving of congestion during the major events.
With the economic development experience within the region, transport systems have experienced the dynamic changes. The changes have transformed the systems into first class travel facilities, which aim at attracting and developing tourism industry within the region. The population has also experienced major growth increase in numbers (Abed, & Vine, 2007). With the demographic changes and major developments, individuals have moved to the regions cities to experience the benefits of the new economic system. These movements into the cities have caused the road traffic congestion within the region.
Road traffic congestion appears in two dimensions within the region. The first dimension includes the congestion caused by public transport systems within the cities. The congestion contributes to the general road traffic congestion (Abed & Vine, 2007). Though the system caters for a good number, it congests the road traffic system within the region. Furthermore, the congestion that revolves around private means of commuting. The private means contribute to the larger congestion from the high number of car owners who prefer the method of commuting.
In conclusion, population increase has considerably increased the road traffic congestion within the region. In addition, the movement into cities by individuals who seek to experience the better economy has contributed significantly to the road traffic congestion.
The region has identified the implementation process for a development plan that will facilitate the expansion of the road traffic system within the region. However, the expansion of the system does not directly address the issues, which revolve around the demographics and increase in personal car ownership (Jee, 2014). Within the context of implementing the development strategy, more individuals will move into the developed areas, which fail to address the road traffic congestion that currently haunts these areas.
In addition, the development plan will attract increased road traffic congestion within the region considering the expansion process of the road traffic system. As workers expand the system, they will have to block some parts from usage by the public (Jee, 2014). The blockage of such parts will contribute to further congestion.
Briefly, considering the development strategies planned for the region it implies that the road traffic congestion menace may continue to affect the region (Peevers, 2010). However, before any such developments take place there should be a strategy to reduce the menace of road traffic congestion. Solutions will lead to better development within the transport sector.
The traffic congestion problem has affected the economy and the government has identified a strategy through which the problem will reduce (Salama, 2009). The strategy entails introducing a roads toll charge to the road users. Within the traffic transport system, the congestion has raised as per the rise in the number of personal transportation systems. The personal transportation systems have increased the number of individual system users. The road toll fee reduces the congestion through discouraging the individual road users.
Through implementing the road toll system, individual road users will seek to resort to car-pooling or public transport with the aim to reduce and spread the road toll charges (Peevers, 2010). However, rather than such measures that discourage road users, the toll system will not apply through the entire region (Dpe weekly report: Traffic congestion in abu dhabi city, 2008). The system targets the cities and towns within which the problem occurs on a regular basis.
In conclusion, the administration should take charge in implementing solutions, which facilitate economic development through reduction of the wasted working hours (Salama, 2009). In addition, programs, which discourage the individual road users, work in ensuring that individuals resort to better use of the public transportation programs.
According to the article published by Khaleej Times, the CEO of licensing department of RTA Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan that 20,000 cars were been registered in Dubai this year not to mention the rest of the emirates (Al Majaida, 2012). The authorities cannot force people to own fewer cars unlike foreign countries as they have public transport and great infrastructure. Overall, traffic can be managed if the authority focused on encouraging people to buy fewer cars and use public transportation more often.
Traffic congestion does not only occur due to the increased number of cars but from car accidents that happen on the road. Therefore, the police install radars in order for people to stay at speed limit and prevent accidents.
New radars are installed all over Abu Dhabi covering most of the hotspots and the highways to prevent accidents and fine speeding cars. Now the radar has been developed to give more than one fine (Dpe weekly report: Traffic congestion in abu dhabi city, 2008). Other than speeding and crossing a red light, the radar also captures cars that cause congestion as well as, cars changing lanes without signals.
In conclusion, having the police installing newly developed radars can make people spend less that will decrease the accident rate and by achieving that, there will be less congestion (Dpe weekly report: Traffic congestion in abu dhabi city, 2008).
Traffic signals are made to keep the traffic running smoothly without any accidents or congestion happens (Higman, n.d.). However, some signals in the UAE region are uncoordinated, which causes congestion early in the morning and at weekends.
Some signals stay red longer than it stays green. These kinds of signals create traffic congestions. Take Dubai for instance, their signal system and timing is different from Abu Dhabi as in Dubai the signal tends to take longer (Al Jandaly, 2014). If there is an emergency or an ambulance stuck at the back of the traffic that is a big problem. Traffic signals must be synchronized in order for such problems to be prevented. Overall, some signals maybe not in sync but most of them are on track. The ones that are not in harmony should be fixed to prevent future complications.
When a country like the UAE economically expands, it creates an impact on its infrastructure. Many aspects cause traffic congestion in UAE. Since the UAE develops its economy every year, the foreign workforce is needed even more. When the workforce increases, it has an impact on the infrastructure of the city making roads and internal transport more crowdie causing congestion (Abu dhabi traffic: New radars will be installed on eight roads on Monday, 2013). Each year the labor workforce increases and according to the article, in 2015 the population of Abu Dhabi may increase up to 2.5 million and double that number in 10 years. Abu Dhabi has one of the best infrastructures in the Emirates. However, Abu Dhabi must expand and develop its infrastructure in order to prevent future congestions.
2.1 Summary and Conclusion
The research regarding traffic congestion in the UAE has different implications on the manner individuals will approach the issue and identify a solution. Considering Dubai solely, there exists 20,000 registered vehicles, which indicates that people within the region invest the personal transportation systems. With these statistics for Dubai alone, it implies that the rest of the emirates have greater numbers of registered personal automobiles. The trend begs a question towards the perception of the individuals to the public means of commuting. With a closer view of the way, individuals perceive the public means of commuting. Most indicate that they find the means of commuting less convenient based on the number of connections they need to make before reaching a particular destination. Secondly, the inconvenience as expressed by the commuters involves the time issue. They perceive that using the public transportation on road traffic they may spend time waiting for the scheduled departures and arrivals. The solution towards changing these perceptions revolves around developing the public road transportation system. The improvements should reduce the issue of having to make multiple connections before arriving at one destination and reducing the time intervals required for departures.
Considering the traffic congestion caused by the failure of traffic signals, the local administrative units should ensure that they repair such traffic signals because they contribute to the road traffic congestion (Higman, n.d.). The road signals should change within the same intervals to ensure that traffic does not build up within certain roads. The authorities should also expand the road systems, which experience congestion due to heavy traffic (Arabian General Investment Authority, 2010). Expansion of such roads enables easier flow of commuters, which additionally reduces on the congestion. These roads may also undergo reconstruction to ensure that they have bridges and diversions and bypasses which ease the congestion.
The traffic congestion results from the economic growth combined with an increase in population within the UAE region (Group, 2012). Such factors contribute towards the road transport congestion because more individuals move towards the cities and towns and work for corporations within these business hubs. In this regard, the major employers within the region should offer transportation methods for their workers (Arabian General Investment Authority 2010). The approach provides a solution for the traffic congestion, which occurs during the peak transport hours. The number of individual commuters travelling to one workstation reduces as they commute using common means. In addition, family members should use common methods of commuting since they move towards similar directions (Alameen, 2008). The strategy greatly reduces the road traffic congestion, which results from population increase. These efforts look towards the combination of transport groups to form large units, which can utilize common commuting means.
3.0 Methodology
Methods of the data collection within the research study included the questionnaires.
Questionnaires provided an ultimate tool for the data collection purposes because they covered the specific questions, which indicate the researches areas of interest. Questionnaires also facilitate the conduction of a survey over a larger sample space as replication enables the sourcing of more copies. Therefore, using the questionnaires the research would manipulate the sample space easily.
The method applied for sampling the data will be the stratified sampling method. It will enable researchers to group individuals of a population into smaller homogeneous groups. The smaller homogeneous groups will undergo sampling. For data collection, the researchers will implement the use of qualitative questionnaires and observation. The observation provides a chance to evaluate the information provided from the qualitative questionnaires.
The population sample identified for the study included motorists who commute daily within the region. The motorist experience level included only drivers who have experience within major towns and cities within the region. The drivers also underwent categorization, which included grouping the drivers based on the years of experience. The categorization facilitated the collection of data from different experience levels. With a variety of data collection groups the research managed to conduct a correlation analysis, which presents the experiences of different motorists regarding the identification of solutions towards the traffic congestion.
4.0 Analysis and Findings
Through the categorization of drivers, it emerged that the motorists who had more than 16 months experience of driving within the region had recently spent fewer hours within the traffic congestion. The findings imply that with experience, motorists develop techniques to maneuver around the traffic congestion issue.
The data collected had several strengths in conducting the research. Among the strengths, include the categorization of data based upon the driver’s experience. In addition, the data collection facilitated the manipulation of the sample space. Through the questionnaires, the research revealed the ideas held by the motorists.
Among the strengths of the method, include the guidance of the respondents. The questionnaires offer limited options for the respondents. The respondents had limited options in regards to expressing ideas away from the suggested response options.
5.0 Conclusion
Traffic congestion continues to appear as a challenge in the UAE region. The phenomenon has developed to this extent due to the economic developments witnessed within the region. These developments have increased the standards of living with more citizens having the ability to purchase cars, which offer private means of commuting (Alameen, 2008). The congestion further contributes to slower growth due to the times lost in the congestion waits. The region needs to identify a strategy, which resolves the congestion problem. Major solutions revolve around emphasizing on public means of commuting (Higman, n.d.). Car-pooling and reduction in personal commuting services will offer a solution towards the problem.
6.0 References
Abed, I., & Vine, P. (2007). United Arab Emirates: yearbook 2006. London: Trident Press.
Abu dhabi traffic: New radars will be installed on eight roads on monday. (2013, November 25). Retrieved from http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/Abu_Dhabi_Traffic_New_radars_will_be_installed_on_eight_roads_on_Monday/58460.htm
Alameen, B. (2008, April 28). Driving in Dubai addthis_pub 'dubaifaqs';. Dubai driving and traffic. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://www.dubaifaqs.com/driving-in-dubai.php
Al Jandaly, B. (2014, January 7). Out-of-sync traffic signals lead to congestion on al wasl road in dubai. Retrieved from http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/out-of-sync-traffic-signals-lead-to-congestion-on-al-wasl-road-in-dubai-1.1274749
Al Majaida, A. (2012, October 20). More vehicles cause traffic jam. Retrieved from http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?xfile=/data/transport/2012/October/transport_October29.xml§ion=transport
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Carter, T., & Dunston, L. (2007). Dubai. Ediz. Inglese. Dubai: Saviins.
Croucher, M. (2014, February 26). Heavy traffic causes congestion along Dubai-Abu Dhabi route | The National. Heavy traffic causes congestion along Dubai-Abu Dhabi route | The National. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://www.thenational.ae/uae/transport/heavy-traffic-on-sheikh-zayed-road-causes-congestion-in-dubai
Dpe weekly report: Traffic congestion in abu dhabi city. (2008, June 22). Retrieved from http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/DPE_Weekly_Report_Traffic_congestion_in_Abu_Dhabi_city/30751.htm
Gulf Talent. (2007, July 7). Dubai Overtakes Cairo in Traffic Congestion. Dubai Overtakes Cairo in Traffic Congestion. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.gulftalent.com/home/Dubai-Overtakes-Cairo-in-Traffic-Congestion-Article-23.html
Group, O. B. (2012). The Report: Qatar 2012. London: Oxford Publishers.
Higman, C. (n.d.). Middle East Rail Market Report. Terrapinn. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from http://www.heriot-edievale.com/upload/middleeastrailconfrence.pdf
Jee, L. (2014, February 24). Accident in Jebel Ali causes massive traffic congestion on Sheikh Zayed Road. 7DAYS Dubai. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://7daysindubai.com/accident-jebel-ali-causes-massive-traffic-congestion-sheikh-zayed-road/
Peevers, A. (2010). Dubai (6th ed.). Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet.
Salama, S. (2009, April 1). Abu Dhabi plans to introduce road toll to reduce traffic congestion. Newsletter. Retrieved May 28, 2014, from http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/traffic-transport/abu-dhabi-plans-to-introduce-road-toll-to-reduce-traffic-congestion-1.62014
Vlahides, J. A. (2008). Dubai (5th ed.). Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet.
7.0 Appendix
Adapted from: Gulf Talent. (2007, July 7). Dubai Overtakes Cairo in Traffic Congestion. Dubai Overtakes Cairo in Traffic Congestion. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.gulftalent.com/home/Dubai-Overtakes-Cairo-in-Traffic-Congestion-Article-23.html
Adapted from: Gulf Talent. (2007, July 7). Dubai Overtakes Cairo in Traffic Congestion. Dubai Overtakes Cairo in Traffic Congestion. Retrieved May 29, 2014, from http://www.gulftalent.com/home/Dubai-Overtakes-Cairo-in-Traffic-Congestion-Article-23.html
