RTA chief says driverless metro trains are safer

Dubai's metro trains are fully automated

At the launch of the Dubai Metro Red Line last night, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) chairman Mattar Al Tayer said that the driverless trains being used for the metro are safer than the ones that are manned by a driver.

Dubai Metro is believed to be the longest automated, driverless train system that has ever been built in one go.

“The introduction of a driver means introducing the chance of human error as well,” said Al Tayer.

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“A driver would definitely make at least one error in the eight hours that he would be on duty for. With an automated system, this removes that chance by 100%.”

He also said that during the time of construction, the RTA had two safety bodies working on it 24/7.

“We had our own in-house committee that was overseeing health and safety issues throughout the planning and construction phases and we had also contracted an outside safety firm to lend their expertise from an outside perspective,” said Al Tayer.

“I can say with full confidence that Dubai Metro is one of the safest rail systems in the world.”

Dubai Metro is now open to the public.

 

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