Posted Road Speed Limits in Abu Dhabi: Are They Too High? Should They Have Been Raised? Evidence Based Answers

Road posted speed limits (PSL) in Abu Dhabi (AD) were raised in mid-2018. Before raising PSL by 20 kph, AD drivers were legally allowed to drive 20 kph above PSL. Thus, there was a speed buffer within which drivers would not be fined for speeding. While it has been stated (through public media) that the elimination of this speed buffer would increase safety, this paper challenges this view. This paper describes how the argument for increased safety through increased PSL quickly breaks down. The paper bases its arguments mainly on basic physics, as well as local research data and findings. More specifically, this paper not only shows how existing road design may not safely accommodate raised PSLs (or even previously lower PSLs), but also how fatal road injuries are more likely to occur on AD roads with higher design speeds. The paper also describes how increased PSL may increase the potential for liability and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper concludes that while speed buffers should have been removed, PSL should not have been increased since higher PSL may negatively affect road safety while decreasing travel times only marginally. That is, there is not much to gain from raising PSLs, but there is potentially a lot to lose. Thus, the author urges policy makers to make decisions based on science and solid evidence. This is relevant as decisions such as increasing PSL on public roads may have a significant negative impact on public health through increased injury/mortality rates and pollution levels.