- Title: UAE-DUBAI-TAXI SAFETY Dubai taxis to get device warning against tailgating
- Date: 31st August 2015
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (AUGUST 27, 2015) (REUTERS) DUBAI'S EMIRATES TOWERS AND CARS DRIVING ALONG ROUNDABOUT CARS DRIVING ON A ROUNDABOUT TAXI DRIVING THROUGH A TUNNEL TAXI DRIVER DRIVING A TAXI WITH DUBAI TAXI OFFICIAL SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT ARM PATCH ON UNIFORM OF TAXI DRIVER READING (English and Arabic): "DUBAI TAXI" AND "RTA (ROADS AND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY)" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DUBAI TAXI OFFICIAL, AMMAR BREIKI, SAYING: "(This Taxi) is outfitted with the "Back Off Radio" system which is comprised of two sensors, one in the front of the car and one in the back. The purpose of this system is to warn the driver in the event that the distance between him and the car in front of him breaches the 5 metre safe distance. It also warns the driver that is driving behind the vehicle." DASHBOARD OF TAXI AS IT DRIVES ALONG DUBAI HIGHWAY WITH THE RADIO ALERT SYSTEM WARNING (English): "PLEASE KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT, A MESSAGE FROM THE RTA AND VIRGIN RADIO" DUBAI TAXI DRIVER DRIVING WITH THE "BACK OFF RADIO" ALERT SYSTEM WARNING (English): "PLEASE KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT, A MESSAGE FROM THE RTA" TAXI DRIVER DRIVING CAB CARS ON A ROUNDABOUT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOUSA AL-RAISI FROM THE DUBAI ROADS AND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, SAYING: "Back Off Radio, also called safe distance radio, is a new project still in the trial phase for Dubai Taxis and it is in line with the emirate's vision to become a smart city, given that 2015 was declared as the year of innovation." DUBAI TAXI "TAXI" SIGN ON TOP OF THE DUBAI TAXI VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS FROM THE "BACK OFF RADIO" PROJECT INSPECTING TAXIS OUTFITTED WITH THE ALERT SYSTEM SENSORS ON THE TAXI THAT TRIGGER THE TAILGAITING WARNING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ARABIAN RADIO NETWORK, MAHMOUD AL-RASHEED, SAYING: "We started the idea, the idea of "Back Off Radio" since we at the radio network, we always try to convey to our listeners that safety is the first priority for us. Our listeners are often listening to the radio while they're driving. So for us, the issue of safety, and directing the drivers to reach their destination safely is our priority." DUBAI TAXIS WAITING IN LINE TO PICK UP PASSENGERS VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS STANDING BY TAXIS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOUSA AL RAISI FROM THE DUBAI ROADS AND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY SAYING: "Today, taxis are not just a form of transportation, but they can also be a source to educate people about keeping a safe distance while driving." VARIOUS OF A DUBAI TAXI DUBAI TAXI DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD
- Embargoed: 15th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAGBCPICJYHKDLQH96F6V5QKN9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Officials in Dubai are set to roll out plans to equip the city's taxis with a device that will warn the driver if the vehicle gets too close to the car in front.
The "Back Off Radio" system is designed to curb the number of accidents resulting from tailgating.
The radio system is still in the pilot phase, but the plan is to outfit all of Dubai's taxis -- some 9,000 or so.
The "Back Off Radio" system is triggered by sensors and can warn taxi drivers and other vehicles which come within five metres of any cab outfitted with the technology in the city to back off or slow down if they get too close to another car.
"(This Taxi) is outfitted with the "Back Off Radio" system which is comprised of two sensors, one in the front of the car and one in the back," said Dubai Taxi official Ammar Breik.
"The purpose of this system is to warn the driver in the event that the distance between him and the car in front of him breaches the 5-metre safe distance. It also warns the driver that is driving behind the vehicle," he added.
The driver behind will be warned if he is listening to one of the radio stations in the Arabian Radio Network at the time.
Mousa al-Raisi from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said tailgating was one of the main causes of car accidents in Dubai, resulting in thousands of crashes every year.
"Back Off Radio, also called safe distance radio, is a new project still in the trial phase for Dubai taxis and it is in line with the emirate's vision to become a smart city, given that 2015 was declared as the year of innovation," Raisi said.
The warning is broadcast through a network of radio stations under the umbrella of the Arabian Radio Network that has partnered with the RTA in the project.
"At the radio network, we always try to convey to our listeners that safety it's the first priority for us," said Arabian Radio Network General Manager Mahmoud al-Rasheed.
"Our listeners are often listening to the radio while they're driving so for us, the issue of safety, and directing the drivers to reach their destination safely is our priority," he added.
According to Rasheed, the nine different radio stations within the network will be able to broadcast the warning in several different languages, depending on the language of the radio station that the taxi driver is listening to.
Dubai, a multicultural and multilingual city, is home to radio stations that broadcast in Arabic, English, Tagalog, Farsi and Hindi, among other languages.
The warning message is also triggered if the taxi driver is speeding, warning him to keep a safe distance from the car in front.
RTA officials say they are still carrying out tests on the system and have not yet announced an official launch date.
Officials said if the technology is successful in limiting the number of accidents, they may also launch a similar project for buses as well, noting that public transport can be a source of education on safe driving practices.
"Today, taxis are not just a form of transportation, but they can also be a source to educate people about keeping a safe distance while driving," said RTA official Raisi.
The project is the latest in a string of initiatives by the Dubai government to transform the city into a "Smart City", an initiative launched by Dubai's leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, aimed at adopting new technologies that can help connect all different sectors of society and create the Arab world's first "Smart City". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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