Project to implement way-finding system for vehicles
Road signs in Sharjah are in line for an overhaul to help make motorists’ journeys easier and shorter. The Traffic Engineering Department of Sharjah’s Department of Public Works (DPW) commenced a comprehensive traffic study of way-finding and public addressing system to upgrade guide signs in the emirate. The study aims at implementing a way-finding system that can provide guidance to vehicles’ drivers to easily reach their destinations and reduce the time and effort required.
The study recognises the need for such a system due to the rapid growth of Sharjah city.
In this regard, Engineer Muhsin Balwan, manager of Traffic Engineering Department, said: “The project involves implementing a robust way-finding system for vehicles and pedestrians that will consider the content, sizes, color codes, materials and location of sign boards. The system will also consider the maximum speed limits on different categories of roads in Sharjah. The system will be applied on base of the most up-to-date international information system. The first phase of the project will include evaluating the existing system to find how effective it is, then in the second phase, we will upgrade the currently-used system, while the implementation will be in a third separate phase.”
Balwan said one of the top priorities of the system is to create an accurate integrated way-finding system that can help road-users easily identify and reach their destinations in Sharjah city, and Middle and Eastern areas. The system will also play a role in eliminating traffic congestions and accidents probabilities since drivers will be focussed while driving.
The system will serve different categories of road-users, including emergency services, which will indirectly enhance the economy of Sharjah. It’s expected that the outcome of the project can be linked to recently introduced Sharjah DPW smartphone application. It will also contribute towards achieving the trend of the Sharjah Government to develop technological projects to meet public requirements.
