A new artificial intelligence system is being introduced in Dubai to monitor and track the behaviour of taxi drivers.
The emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority said that the technology will be used to detect drowsy and distracted driving.
The system will also ensure the driver and passengers wear face masks and keep a safe distance from each other.
Sensors are installed in vehicles to monitor and detect driving behaviour patterns in real time.
These are connected to audio messages designed to alert drivers in case of sudden lane changing, abrupt braking or going too close to the vehicle in front.
“Through this technology, we can figure out the performance of the driver on the road in a continuous manner,” said Khaled Al-Awadhi, director of transport systems at the RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
“It helps us to send alerts to drivers or send them on rehabilitation courses in case of repeated offences such as speeding, sudden stopping or unnecessary use of brakes.”
He said the new system would allow RTA officers to identify the reasons for poor driving.
“We will also improve the notification system and carry out a comprehensive assessment of drivers' performances assisted by AI technologies,” he said.
Talal Ben Halim, founder and chief executive of Acacus, the firm behind the technology, said the system would help improve customer satisfaction.
“Taxis are a means of transport that have to maintain privacy and deliver high-level safety,” he said.
“This technology will also help us in monitoring the conduct of drivers and riders with regards to the precautionary measures in place to fight the coronavirus, such as the physical distancing and the wearing of face masks."
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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