Smart Driver Project Kicks off in Abu Dhabi

World No.1 in Detecting and Improving Traffic Behaviors

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - July 7th 2013 [ME NewsWire]: The Traffic and Patrols Directorate at the Abu Dhabi Police announced the launch of the Smart Driver Program, within the initiative: Together to put a limit on traffic accidents.

The project, the first of its kind in the world, aims to support the development and improvement of traffic safety levels by allowing drivers to monitor, assess, and correct their behaviors.
The project is implemented in different phases; each phase has its own objectives in order to achieve a comprehensive plan to create a safe traffic environment based on the drivers' awareness and understanding of the traffic safety requirements.This multi-phase approach was revealedat the press conference held today at the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate.

The first phase is based on four main points. A smart-phone application will be launched to enable motorists to monitor vehicle speed and compare it to speed limits across their route. This phase will also provide a GPS system with features allowing authorities to reach the vehicle as fast as possible to provide support in the event of an accident or any other problem on the road.

The application is connected to a smart database that updatesthe driver's ranking across the Emirate after each trip. This aims to assess their commitment to changing their behavior, creating a competitive environment in order to spread the traffic safety culture as a tangible reality on the ground. The motorist who tops the list will receive a monthly prize of 10,000 AED to acknowledge his/her efforts in supporting Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate's endeavor to spread traffic safety rules among the public.

Commenting on this world triumph, which has been achieved by the Traffic and Patrols Directorate, Director Brigadier Eng. Hussein Ahmed Al Harthisaid: “The Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorateregisters its world leadership once again through its commitment to increase awareness among motorists and turning them into our strategic partners to spread traffic safety. This has been our vision since the first day of our initiative under the slogan: Together to Put a Limit to Traffic Accidents, through which we were able to gain the UN's trust as a supportive entity for traffic safety and receive the AME global award in New York last January. Our efforts also led us to win the Minister of Interior's Excellence Award in its second edition, for traffic safety.”

He added: “Today we are proud to launch a project that is the first of its kind in the world; the Smart Driver Project. It is anticipated to make a revolution in the traffic sector. It confronts drivers across the Emirate with their traffic responsibilities by allowing them to realize and assess their behavior while driving, as well as receive information on their ranking. Furthermore, it allows motorists to correct their wrong behavior.”

Al Harthi noted that the new application will also monitor the drivers' commitment to not talking on mobile phones or texting, as well as using headsets in case of necessary calls. “We are currently working to set up a mathematical mechanism within the application, which is able to subtract or add points to the driver's credit based on their adherence to speed limits and mobile phone usage,” he explained.

All information will be stored in databases exclusive to drivers, and no other parties, whether internal or external, will be able to view it or use it for any purpose. The objective of this information is incentive to enable motorists to improve their traffic behavior. Similar systems are followed on social media websites as well as modern sports applications.

The press conference announced that other smart initiatives exist, and will be announced later within the“Together” initiative.

The first phase activation will take place next September with other phases to follow, guaranteeing success to the Smart Driver Project.