The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) has taken a significant step towards improving road safety in sensitive areas by installing smart speed limit signs near schools, residential areas, and pedestrian crossings. The interactive signs are powered by a smart speed detection system, which captures the speed of passing vehicles in real-time. The speed limit of the road is displayed at the top of the sign, and if the vehicle is within the limit, the sign displays the actual speed in green, along with a smiling emoji. If not, the speed is shown in red with a sad emoji, alerting the driver to slow down. These signs aim to encourage drivers to stay within the speed limits, significantly reducing the risk of accidents in the targeted areas.
In the UAE, speed limits in school zones vary from 30 to 40kmph, with fines ranging between Dh300 to Dh3,000, depending on how fast the motorist goes over the limit. In residential areas, the limits vary between 25 to 40kmph.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) installed smart speed limit signs in school zones to ensure road safety in 2017. The interactive signs in school zones and pedestrian crossings use a smart detection system to capture the speed of vehicles in real-time. The system displays the actual speed in green with a smiling emoji if the vehicle is within the speed limit. If the driver exceeds the limit, the system displays the speed in red with a sad emoji, alerting the driver to slow down.
These emoji speed signs, as explained by the officials, encourage motorists to drive safely as it displays individual driver's speeds, which is more impactful than generic displays of the speed limit. A study also supports this claim. In Silicon Oasis, where Filipino expat Ben Lebig resides, similar speed signs are installed, which he believes is a great way to alert road users who are speeding. The impact of the green smiling face is psychological, and it almost immediately alerts the driver to slow down.
Regular speed limit signs are generic, but a smart sign, like the emoji speed sign, catches everybody's attention, including Dubai resident Arijit Nandi, who drops his son at school every morning. He feels that public shame is associated with displaying his misdeed to other road users, which changes his behavior for the better.