Dubai residents speak out on how to drive safe

Residents are lending voice to a social media campaign launched by Dubai Police last week asking people to share ideas in improving road safety conditions.

While official statistics of the first four months this year from Dubai Police revealed 69 traffic deaths and 791 people sustained injuries, the month of May saw 15 people succumb to injuries in wake of the fatal bus crash on May 10, followed by another accident a few days later when a school bus crashed into a parked car on the hard shoulder, killing the driver instantly.

According to Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Deputy Director of Dubai Traffic Police Department, most of the accidents are caused by drivers’ mistakes and speeding.

“Most of the traffic accidents that caused deaths were because of drivers’ mistakes. Either they were not paying attention while driving or they were speeding and not leaving enough distance,” he said earlier.

Even as the Federal Traffic Council of UAE debates improving road safety conditions with proposals that include reducing the grace speed limit on radars and banning mini-buses from transporting people, the new social media campaign by Dubai Police, with the hashtag #StopSpeeding, is taking the debate to the general public to give ideas and be a part of the change.

Residents such as Ali Mohammed have hailed the move, saying: “It is imperative that residents are part of the decision making considering we are the ones who brave these roads every day, exposing ourselves to the risks and the dangers that have made driving conditions so stressful for daily commuters.”

Anita Pradhan, who drops her child to school every day, says: “The initiative cannot come at a better time. That horrific accident with those poor workers, followed by the school bus crash has struck fear in the hearts of many of us who brave the commute daily on the highways, especially with our children strapped in. It’s time we all step up as a community and join the movement.”

Opinions and suggestions have been varied, with people suggesting reducing speed limits on highways, to banning trailers at certain times.

Subash Iyer tweeted: “#StopSpeeding Ban trailers during peak hours from 4pm to 9pm.”

Deep Manghnani ‏said: “Reduce the speed limit on Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road from 140kmph to 100kmph #StopSpeeding.”

Ian McCauley said: “Let’s take it beyond #StopSpeeding. I suggest we introduce car pool/bus lanes for vehicles with more than two people riding in it. Countries such as the US follow this system and it works.”

Shaheen Haider said: “Bring in a seatbelt law for children in the backseat, along with placing a speed limit on vehicles commuting with kids in them.”

Prakash Goyal said: “Repeat offenders must undergo mandatory refreshers course in driving; in fact, why not make it mandatory for everyone who has more than eight black points?”

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