Dubai to trial digital vehicle number plates

Vehicles in Dubai will be fitted with digital number plates to inform emergency services of drivers involved in accidents – according to a report by the BBC. The cars will be equipped with smart plates with digital screens, GPS and transmitters for a trial starting next month. Sultan Abdullah al-Marzouqi, head of the vehicle licensing department at Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said that the plates will make life easier for drivers in Dubai. He added that the initiative will also work out
April 11, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Vehicles in Dubai will be fitted with digital number plates to inform emergency services of drivers involved in accidents – according to a report by the %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external BBC false http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43710817 false false%>. The cars will be equipped with smart plates with digital screens, GPS and transmitters for a trial starting next month.


Sultan Abdullah al-Marzouqi, head of the vehicle licensing department at 6700 Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said that the plates will make life easier for drivers in Dubai. He added that the initiative will also work out any potential technological glitches caused by city’s desert climate.

For vehicles involved in a collision, the technology intends to allow real-time communication with other drivers about traffic conditions or any accidents ahead.

These number plates can also change to display an alert if a vehicle or digital plate is stolen.

In addition, fines, parking fees or renewing registration plates will be automatically deducted from users’ accounts. The plates can also be changed using the RTA’s app or website.
 
The final cost of the project is said only to be known after it finishes in November. However, the technology’s ability to allow transport authorities to track drivers has raised concerns about privacy and information security.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Lyft updates app to boost two-wheeled travel
    October 2, 2019
    Lyft is tweaking its app in a bid to make it easier for users to switch between different modes of travel - including scooters, bikes, public transit and car rentals. The ride-share firm has added shared bikes and scooters to its app over the past year and says more people are opting for its ‘greenest ride options’. The app displays mobility options in a city and Lyft says it helps users find the safest routes for bikes and scooters. The app will also allow users to compare the time and cost acro
    Read More
  • ReachNow scraps car rental service in Seattle and Portland
    July 25, 2019
    ReachNow has scrapped its car-rental services in Seattle and Portland following a corporate “realignment”, says The Seattle Times. ReachNow offered rentals for BMWs and Mini Coopers and launched a ride-hailing service last year. In May, the company announced to some of its customers that it was shutting down its ride-hailing service, saying that its third-party vendor could no longer support their business. Last November, ReachNow - a BMW subsidiary - integrated car-sharing and ride-hailing int
    Read More
  • SwRI sponsors ITS America with $1,000 student essay competition
    February 14, 2018
    Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is inviting U.S. students to take part in an essay competition to share their visions for the future of transportation with a $1,000 (£720) prize and a trip to ITS America 2018, in Detroit, from the 4-7 June. It is aimed at providing students an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a thought-provoking manner. The topic, ‘How do you envision disruptive consumer technology will affect transportation systems over the next 10 years?’ is open to transportation, engineering
    Read More
  • Rotapanel expands range with LED option
    March 20, 2018
    The big news at Rotapanel is not a rotating panel, it is its new variable message LED matrix sign. According to Hendry Born, product engineer with Rotapanel, authorities are increasingly specifying a combination of signs and want a one-stop supplier. However, he said the rotating signs’ benefits remain – most notably easily recognisable signage for drivers, ‘stand-alone’ ability with battery power and solar recharging and low whole life costs. “In many instances authorities only need to direct vehicles on
    Read More

Highlighted Content