2006
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Dubai traffic offences rocket
Dubai Police have published figures showing that more traffic offences occurred in the first five months of 2006 than took place in the whole of 2003, reported Gulf News. 546,315 offences have been recorded so far this year; the increase in the number of cars on Dubai's roads is part of the reason for the hike. Violations such as tail-gaiting and drink driving have contributed to causing fatal accidents.
160km/h speed limits remain
A speed limit of 160km/h will remain for the time being on sections of the Abu Dhabi - Dubai and Abu Dhabi - Al Ain highways, Gulf News reported citing transport officials. Meanwhile, 12 people were killed and 93 injured in traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi in the past two weeks.
BMW signs Rover sale deal
BMW has found a buyer, as yet unnamed, for the rights to the Rover brand, Reuters reported. Chinese carmakers Nanjing Automobile, which acquired the MG brand in 2005 during bankruptcy administration for MG Rover, and Shanghai Automotive are thought to be the main candidates.
Seat beat safety targeted
More traffic patrols to police seat belt use are likely in Abu Dhabi, following a report by the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Department. The study, conducted from 4 March to 15 July, revealed seat belt use was particularly low at night and on weekends, with drivers under the age of 40 the main offenders, reported Gulf News.
AD gets tough on parking
Parking in areas reserved for people with special needs or the emergency services in Abu Dhabi will lead to heavy fines and, possibly, prison terms, reported Gulf News. Motorists occupying spaces allocated for those with special needs permits face an initial Dhs500 fine. Motorists whose parking hinders rescue workers could face criminal charges with fines up to Dhs10,000 and jail terms if the illegal parking contributed to causing casualties.
Parallel roads for Dubai
Plans have been finalised for the construction of two roads to run parallel to the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, in order to ease congestion, reported Gulf News. The Parallel Roads Project will entail the building of two roads which will run from the Zabeel Road to the Abu Dhabi borders. Construction on the 60km long roads should be finished by 2009; the estimated cost for the project is $1.2bn.
Alternative routes for Sharjah
Sharjah Police have held discussions regarding congestion problems caused by roadworks on the Sharjah-Al Dhaid road. One proposal under consideration is closing the route towards the city centre from Sharjah Airport and diverting Ajman bound traffic towards the Emirates Road.
Gargash sponsors Road Peace
Gargash Enterprises, the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, has recently become a sponsor of the Road Peace Campaign promoting safe driving throughout Dubai and the UAE. Children from the International Association of Human Values this week gave out 1,500 Road Peace car stickers from Gargash's Mercedes-Benz stand at the Mall of the Emirates.
Dibba-Tuwain road closed
Residents in the Goub area are voicing their frustrations after a road linking Dibba and Tuwain has remained closed for more than three months following a sudden landslide, reported Gulf News. Motorists are also unhappy that the diversion road set up as an alternative route is damaging their vehicles.
Road deaths up 40%
156 people were killed in road accidents in Dubai in the first six months of 2006, 42% more than last year, according to Traffic Department statistics cited by Gulf News. Around 1,000 accdents were reported, injuring 1,457 people.
Bugatti US airbag fear
Bugatti could be forced to shut down if made to comply with new US airbag rules, according to the Financial Times. The Volkswagen subsidiary said the rules could mean a redesign to its $1.28m Veyron, the world's fastest and most expensive car. The cost would push up the price of the car 10%, having a "catastrophic" effect on sales.
BMW 3 Series driver training
UAE dealership AGMC hosted BMW 3 Series owners and prospective buyers at a driver training day at Dubai Autodrome. Drivers were put through a series of testing exercises by instructors from the BMW Performance Centre in Bahrain, which concentrated on defensive driving skills and safety. The latest BMW Z4 M Coupe was also on display.
Ford goes for safety
Ford Motor Company is responding to consumers' desire for increased vehicle safety by adding more standard safety features to its 2007 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineups, according to AutoCorse.it. The company has made side air curtains, or its advanced Safety Canopy system, with rollover sensor standard equipment on 14 vehicles for the 2007 model year, including the all-new Ford Edge, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.
DriveArabia, new car listings
DriveArabia.com has gone online with a new buying guide complete with statistics and local price estimates for cars and 4WDs sold from regional dealerships. Listings come with a mini review outlining good and bad points about each car. The guide is around 65% complete, with a full guide due by the end of summer.
Ford recalls 3,400 GCC vehicles
Ford is recalling around 3,400 cars in the GCC as part of a global campaign to fix faulty cruise control switches, according to Gulf News. The recall includes a range of speed control-equipped 1994-2002 F250 and F550 trucks, 2000-2002 Ford Excursions, and 1998 Ford Explorers and Mecury Mountaineers. Around 70% of the vehiclees are in Saudi.
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