The UAE capital is facing a massive increase in vehicular traffic, as a result of a 650 per cent increase in the number of cars from 2001 to 2006. The rise in the number of vehicles is also one of the major causes of traffic jams and accidents.
The Press and Public Relations Department of Abu Dhabi Police said in 2001 there were 27,338 small vehicles and on January 15 this year, the number of vehicles reached 212,686. Local car industry sources attributed the rise to the privatization process.
“Privatization and outsourcing by the public sector and some departments are a big factor in the boom in the automobile market,” says Syed Humayun Alam, Deputy General Manager of Al Masood Automobiles. Public sector enterprises after privatization have made huge purchases of all kinds of vehicles, he said. Another reason is the rise in the number of driving licenses issued.
The Licensing Department issued an estimated 24,000 driving licences in the last three years, said a police source. Major Jamal Al Amiri, Head of the Public Relations and Safety Department at the Traffic Police, said: “The network of roads in Abu Dhabi can bear the load of the increasing number of vehicles. This emirate is bigger in area, and we have no congestion and traffic jams. There are a few bottle necks at some locations due to construction works.” Another reason for the big rise in the number of private cars is the easy car loans offered by banks.
Some car loan schemes are so attractive that buying a brand new car is as easy as buying a home appliance, said Tanvir Ahmed, a car sales executive. He said that young Emiratis prefer buying new cars. “Emiratisation is also a factor that counts. The UAE nationals who get a good job, usually, go for brand new cars,” he added.
According to reports, the total increase in the number of all kinds of vehicles including trucks, buses and other types has reached over a quarter of a million in the last five years from 31,472 in 2001 to 237,891 on January 15, 2006.
An official of the Abu Dhabi Automobile Association suggests that authorities must stop registering early 1980s models to control the rising number of vehicles. The capital is facing a shortage of parking spaces. The Municipality and the Town Planning Department is working on a pilot model project for better parking management, which if found useful, will be implemented in congested areas of the capital. (Emirates Today)
