60% of UAE drivers talk on mobile phones while driving

UAE drivers are major violators of mobile phone rules with over 60 per cent of them using mobiles while driving, a recent survey has found.

About one in three of the respondents who confessed to willfully violating rules said they always answer calls or dial a number while driving.

Zarca Interactive, which conducted the survey, said a whopping 43.92 per cent of drivers talk on their phones sometimes while only 31.76 per cent said they never used their mobiles when driving.

Using mobile phones while driving can lead to Dh200 fine and four black points as per the UAE federal traffic law

According to Dubai and Abu Dhabi police, a total of 59,000 violations were recorded in 2011.

However Dubai police say the numbers have been dropping. While 13,886 motorists were fined for using mobile phones during the first quarter of 2011, the numbers dropped to 11,299 during the same period this year.

Nearly 88 per cent of those who participated in the survey said that they always use their seat belts with the rest indicating that they don’t always make use of it. Only a miniscule 0.68 per cent admitted that they never make use of the seat belt. Some 95 per cent of those surveyed said that they always, mostly or sometimes, make sure that other passengers are buckled in. High was also the percentage of those drivers who insist that children are seated on child seats with only four per cent saying that they never make sure of that.

“The findings of this study accurately mirror the driving behaviour patterns of drivers in the UAE. While talking on the mobile phone when driving continues to be a very popular offence, other traffic law violations have started becoming less poignant as awareness campaigns seem to be gaining traction amongst motorists,” said Javed Farooqui, Executive Director & Head Middle East and Africa, Zarca Interactive, a feedback management specialist.

Some 77 per cent of those asked said that they always, mostly or sometimes indulge in the odd burger or fizzy drink while driving with less than 20.95 per cent saying that they never do it.

Image from Shutterstock

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.