Watch out for the tram

Dubai Trams will hit the tracks in November. Antonie Robertson / The National

There will be some pain for Dubai residents before they realise the benefits of the new tram network

The Dubai Tram, which will hit the tracks in November, is designed to ease road congestion and make commuting easier. But before that happens, there will be some confusion for Dubai's motorists, who are unaccustomed to the way trams ­operate and unsure who will enjoy the right of way.

To avoid traffic chaos, people in the car-loving city are under­taking an intensive course in understanding the light rail system. As The National reported yesterday, driving schools have introduced mandatory classes to teach students how to interpret the new road signals and avoid accidents while sharing the road with trams.

Experience elsewhere in the world shows that the problems will end once people know how the system works. Just after trams started operating in Edinburgh in May, there was a spike in accidents. However, the number of incidents fell sharply as the days passed.

Accidents may result from motorists jumping red lights, ignoring warning signs or making turns without checking to see if a tram is on the tracks beside them. In this dominant car culture, it’s natural that many drivers won’t know what to make of the light rail system. But now is the time to learn that the streets aren’t just for cars anymore – and that, unlike cars, a track-bound tram can’t and won’t get out of your way.