New speed camera ‘adds surprise’ to UAE traffic law enforcement

A new kind of speed camera introduced at a traffic technology expo in Abu Dhabi is being touted as a way to keep motorists on their toes.

Enforcement trailers are deployed in rural zones and work zones in France. Photo courtesy of Cegelec.

ABU DHABI // Portable speed cameras will keep the UAE’s motorists on their toes and can catch speeding across traffic lanes.

An armour-plated “enforcement trailer” speed camera was introduced at the Natrans Expo held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre last month.

The advanced radar system inside the trailer, developed by German company Vitronic and French electrical engineering firm Cegelec, allows the camera to monitor speeds on vehicles across all lanes and in both directions.

The cameras can read licence plates and detect infractions such as speeding, vehicles driving too close to the next one, erratic lane changes and overtaking on the hard shoulder, said Alexander Scarlatella, Cegelec’s business manager.

The trailer can transmit case data to authorities, he said.

“Once installed, it is fully autonomous,” said Mr Scarlatella. “Its power supply with batteries provides a very high autonomy and it can run uninterrupted for five days.”

By the end of the year, the French interior ministry plans to use more than 250 trailer units on its roads. It expected to double that number by the end of 2018. Germany, Luxembourg and Spain have also tested the devices.

UAE federal transport officials, as well as Abu Dhabi and Dubai police, were briefed on the device on the opening day of the expo.

"This device is highly welcomed for the UAE since it introduces the element of surprise in traffic enforcement," said Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE, who attended the event.

Motorists may try to fool fixed cameras, slowing down when approaching one and speeding once past it.

“We should push for more movable devices like this one, which can be installed at different locations and in this way, the element of surprise is added,” said Mr Edelmann.

Phil Clarke, principal road safety consultant at Transport Research Laboratory – UAE, said there may be constraints, but the system could be ideal for enforcement on a short-term basis, such as in work zones or when there is a change in traffic flow.

There are at least three types of automated enforcement systems in Abu Dhabi: fixed radar cameras, infrared no-flash cameras at traffic junctions and mobile radar cameras.

Traffic patrol cars and unmarked patrol cars in Abu Dhabi are also equipped with the latest technology to catch speedsters.

Technology, Mr Clarke said, has its limitations when it comes to enforcing some legislation, especially offences that are committed inside vehicles, such as not wearing seat belts and mobile phone use.

“It also has limitations when it comes to some protected bad driving behaviour which would require more CCTV coverage to capture in entirety,” he said.