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       In the UK and the US, road markings indicating the minimum distance to follow other vehicles have been shown to reduce accidents.
       ABU DHABI // The UAE may introduce white V-shaped markings on roads to indicate the minimum distance between vehicles in a bid to reduce accidents caused by driving too close to each other, experts say.
       ”Several U.S. states and European countries have implemented this measure in pilot corridors and have seen a reduction in the number of vehicles following too closely and speeding in V-Zones,” said Mike Dresness, executive vice president of the American International Road Federation.
       ”Interestingly, research shows that the benefits extend far beyond the chevron markings.”
       According to research by the British consultancy Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), the number of accidents on sections of roads with V-shaped markings in the UK has fallen by 56% compared to the period before the markings were applied.
       Simon Labbett, regional director for TRL, said: “Roads England prioritises installing V-shaped signs where there is evidence of frequent collisions and multiple vehicle crashes.”
       ”They have proven to be an effective means of reducing collisions and increasing separation between vehicles, and their effectiveness goes far beyond chevron signs.”
       The road has V-shaped markings and drivers must ensure there is a V-shaped marking between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. “The distance between the markings is dependent on the speed of the road, which is related to keeping a two-second gap. The faster the road, the greater the distance between the markings,” Mr Labbett said.
       Drivers who are too close to the vehicle in front can use the V-shaped sign to clearly remind them to keep the required distance. Mr Labbett said the chevrons would also help police identify and prosecute drivers who drive in this way.
       Khaled Al Mansoori, deputy CEO of UAE Driving Company, said V-marking in the UAE could be beneficial.
       ”We ask drivers to leave at least three seconds between their car and the car in front, but surprisingly many people don’t know how long that is,” he said. “These chevrons make it much easier and more intuitive to measure.”
       There were 63 road fatalities in Abu Dhabi in the first three months of this year, compared with 88 in the same period last year.
       Police say most fatalities are caused by drivers following too closely, swerving, speeding on unstable road conditions, failing to give way to pedestrians crossing the road and blowing tires.
       ”Following too closely is one of the defining characteristics of driving in the UAE,” said traffic expert Glenn Havinowicki. “The situation is much worse in the UAE than anywhere else I have been, especially on the highways.”
       In Dubai, the number of rear-end collision deaths rose 40% last year compared with 2012.
       ”One of the reasons drivers follow too closely is because drivers don’t have lane discipline,” Labbett said.
       ”If V-shaped markings are to be implemented, specific locations need to be identified where tailgating is a serious problem, particularly on busy roads,” Mr Hawinowski said. “E11 is a reasonable position, but it needs to be applied to the rear position,” he said. “If duplicate signs and logos are placed everywhere, they may lose their effectiveness.”
       Abu Dhabi-based Canadian engineer Iftikhar Ahmed said his son was studying at university in the UK and was impressed by the use of V-shaped signs on British motorways.
       ”While drivers will follow the two-second rule based on their reactions, everyone’s circumstances are different,” he said. “We need more scientific measures, such as V-shaped signs, to avoid highway congestion.”
       ”These measures, combined with other education and enforcement measures, represent an effective tool for changing driver behaviour,” he said.