According to Abu Dhabi Police, 20% of all traffic accidents in the UAE involve a pedestrian. To highlight this issue, Volkswagen has built a structure arched over a pedestrian crossing outside of Gems Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis. The arch has a digital display that shows the first name of individual students carrying VW RFID tags crossing beneath it. The idea is to give a face to each pedestrian and remind motorists that the individual crossing could be their family, friend or neighbour.
This video shows the technology in action.
Volkswagen Middle East partnered with Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and Smart Dubai this month to launch the road safety campaign, called the Human Crossing, to make pedestrian crossings safer for UAE residents.
“Road safety is an important issue for the UAE and broader region," says Thomas Milz, Managing Director, Volkswagen Middle East. "In our commitment to road safety beyond the chassis of a car, we have launched a campaign working with our most vulnerable citizens to drive home an impactful message."
“The goal is to make our roads more human. Human roads are safer roads, because they’re full of compassion and care. At Volkswagen, we do everything to engineer safer cars – from brakes and air bags, to vehicle structural integrity - but we cannot engineer our surroundings. We can however, offer innovative ideas and initiatives that can create a positive discussion for change”.
Dr Aisha Bin Bishr, Director-General of the Smart Dubai Office, says, “Safety is a cornerstone of our smart city strategy. Our children are our treasures, and we are committed to using the latest technology innovations to ensure their continued safety, to be able to grow and thrive in the city of the future. Dubai Silicon Oasis and Volkswagen share our commitment and we are proud to support the Human Crossing project. Partnerships such as these benefit the whole city, and contribute to Smart Dubai's citywide vision for people’s happiness.”
Muammar Al Katheeri, Executive Vice-President of Engineering Management and Smart City at Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, explains, “Partnering with Volkswagen and Smart Dubai to introduce the Human Crossing project touches a very important aspect in the smart city ecosystem that not only ensures the safety of pedestrians but also adds a human component through this new pilot project.
“As a proof of concept for smart city initiatives and as a strategic partner of Smart Dubai, we will host this pilot program for one week at the Gems Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis to influence a safer environment for the younger generations to come.”
Dubai school children have also been learning road safety from behind the wheel.
