Evonik Industries : Modern road markings for safer roads in the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates municipalities and transport authorities met over the past two weeks in a series of seminars conducted in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain. The occasion was to study how to use different road marking technologies to enhance road safety. Organized by Prismo Gulf and Evonik, the seminars highlighted comparative studies conducted by the German Federal High Ways Institute (BaST) on different road marking systems and their impact on safety.

'Road markings are much more than just white or yellow lines. They significantly improve road safety but only if they are visible, functional and present. In the UAE, the currently used road marking systems often crack, soften and turn black relatively fast due to the high temperatures. Little rain makes them less effective, especially in pedestrian areas,' said Peter Reinhard, Vice President Middle East, Africa & India for the Coating & Adhesive Resins Business Line at Evonik.

30% of all victims in road accidents in the UAE in 2016 were motorists and pedestrians. The Ministry of Interior reports, that sudden swerving and a lack of lane discipline are among the top causes for road accidents. During the heavy rainfall on Sunday, March 19th 2017, Dubai alone reported 479 accidents.

Thanks to their functionality and performance, which is the basis for reducing the risk of accidents, road and area markings based on DEGAROUTE® produced by Evonik have been making a considerable contribution to traffic safety globally since more than 50 years.
This technology does not only help to prevent accidents, they also have an outstanding ecological footprint due to their durability. DEGAROUTE® effectively and economically enhances road safety because it can be used to create road marking systems with specific features, such as reflectively, anti-skid, high visibility and longevity.