Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police have announced the formation of a dedicated Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit. This initiative aims to ensure compliance with traffic regulations, manage traffic flow on cycling lanes, and increase public awareness on the safe use of e-scooters and bicycles.

The decision follows a notable increase in the usage of personal mobility devices. Bicycle trips surged from 44 million in 2023 to 46.6 million in 2024, reflecting a five percent growth. Simultaneously, e-scooter trips rose from 30 million to 32.3 million, marking an 8.7 percent increase. Additionally, first-and last-mile trips accounted for 1.7 percent of e-scooter usage and 1.4 percent of bicycle usage.

Violators of personal mobility regulations will face penalties as authorities deploy personnel to monitor activities across bicycle lanes and key streets linked to soft mobility zones. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at the RTA, and Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, met to discuss enhancing collaboration in traffic safety and transport security.

During the meeting, they reviewed the progress of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2022–2026 and road safety indicators for 2024. Al Tayer commended the partnership between RTA and Dubai Police, noting that their collaboration resulted in the successful execution of 53 joint initiatives in 2024, which played a crucial role in achieving targets for reducing fatalities.

Al Tayer emphasized the need to maintain momentum to meet the approved performance indicators of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy, which aims for a “Zero Fatalities” vision. He reiterated RTA’s commitment to improving safety across public transport and personal mobility services while developing effective awareness platforms for all road users.

Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri praised the RTA and Dubai Police’s partnership, stating that their collective efforts have significantly enhanced safety for citizens, residents, and visitors. He noted that their continued initiatives have led to a reduction of more than 90 percent in traffic fatalities and incidents over an 18-year period from 2007 to 2024.

The meeting highlighted the success of eight awareness campaigns that reached over 255 000 individuals, alongside the production of more than 24 educational videos focused on the severe consequences of traffic violations, which garnered over 117 million views.

Participants reviewed the implementation of 53 initiatives across four key pillars of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy. These initiatives led to a decline in road fatalities from 21.7 per 100 000 people in 2007 to 1.8 in 2024, while pedestrian fatalities fell from 9.5 to 0.3. The combined rate of fatalities and serious injuries decreased from 36.2 to just four.

The meeting further discussed road engineering initiatives aimed at improving safety, including the assessment and enhancement of 23 high-risk locations, the installation of 54 raised pedestrian crossings, and upgrades at various sites for soft mobility users.

Efforts are also ongoing to develop a smart management system for public transport drivers, enhancing safety in the sector. Joint initiatives included 19 site visits to truck rest areas and 85 awareness workshops for delivery riders, reaching over 15 000 drivers.

Under the systems and management pillar, Dubai has implemented laws governing autonomous vehicle operations and has upgraded the high-frequency incident location tracking system. The two entities are exploring further opportunities to strengthen traffic enforcement and public awareness campaigns for truck and motorcycle drivers.

RTA also presented its Roads and Transport Plan 2030, structured around four key pillars: road infrastructure projects, transport policy measures, public transport development, and smart traffic systems. The plan aims to enhance major corridors and improve traffic flow through various initiatives, including the construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line and the advancement of intelligent traffic systems across the city.