Since 2007, Dubai motorists have had access to a high-tech way of paying road tolls. Instead of queuing at payment booths, vehicles simply pass under gates that are equipped to register the details contained on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the windscreen. Under the Salik system, the fee is automatically deducted from the motorist’s prepaid account. If the car doesn’t have a tag, the technology can scan its number plate and bill the registered owner. The system is simple, efficient and requires minimal human input.
Now, as The National reported over the weekend, it has been suggested that Salik's technology also be used in the fight against speeding. The proposal by Dubai resident Paul Gill was first posted on the Road Safety UAE website. It makes a lot of sense. He says that installing a new Salik gate over Sheikh Zayed Road at the Abu Dhabi border in Jebel Ali would allow the authorities to time vehicles travelling from that point to the old Salik gates. They could calculate the average speed it takes to cover the distance and any vehicle that covers it too quickly would have obviously been driving too fast. In other words, drivers would have to obey the speed limit for the entire journey rather than simply slowing down before they reach a speed camera. If drivers are compelled to abide by the speed limit, this would also minimise tailgating, weaving through traffic and other dangerous behaviour.
The powerful Salik technology could be employed for other purposes too. It could help collate real-time data on traffic flow, allowing the authorities to issue warnings about potential delays as well as plan road infrastructure as needed. It could help with research into driving habits and this could be useful for targeted road-safety campaigns. The Salik RFID tag could also be used for other purposes, such as matching up vehicles with available parking spots.
The technology's potential for monitoring speeding could be genuinely transformative. With Dubai Police registering 2,790 instances of motorists exceeding the speed limit by more than 60 kph in the first quarter of this year alone – and a national per-capita death toll on the roads seven times that of the UK – any initiative that can help save lives is worth serious consideration.