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19 March 2024

Top 10 distractions for UAE motorists

Published
By Staff

Behaviour of other drivers, changing the radio stations and poorly behaved children have emerged as some of the top reasons why UAE drivers are getting distracted on roads, leading to a higher incidence of accidents.

Over one third of UAE motorists admit to becoming distracted while driving, according to joint research released by global insurer Zurich and RoadSafetyUAE.com.

In the Emirates Motoring survey of 1,007 UAE drivers, 34 per cent of respondents said that their concentration levels dip while driving.

This is particularly true of young motorists (those aged 18 to 24), of whom 43 per cent feel that their attention is not always directed on driving.

Nearly half of respondents (47 per cent) believe that there is a clear link between losing concentration while driving and being involved in a collision.

Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds at 100kmph means that you are effectively driving blind for 55 meters.

People’s own behaviour plays a significant role in them losing focus on the road.

Despite it being illegal in the UAE, nearly a third (30 per cent) of motorists admit to using their phones and reading texts while driving.

Speaking with passengers (44 per cent), changing the radio station (40 per cent), and adjusting the air conditioning (34 per cent) are other major reasons why drivers lose concentration.

The stunning skyline of the UAE is also enough for eight per cent of drivers to become distracted.

Yet it is events outside of the car that disrupt concentration most, with 59 per cent of respondents citing the behaviour of other drivers as the single biggest distraction on UAE roads.

This is a particular distraction for those aged over 40 (71 per cent) and for Western drivers (78 per cent).

Commenting on the research, Brian Reilly, CEO of Zurich Insurance Middle East, said: “Becoming distracted while driving is a leading cause of accidents on UAE roads.

“The one in three drivers who fail to focus their full attention on the road are at risk of injuring themselves, their passengers and other motorists.

“People are limited in the amount of information they can process at any one time so the prevalent use of mobile phones by drivers, which requires eyes to be taken off the road and hands to be removed from the wheel, is troubling.”

He added that every car user in the UAE should be encouraged to stow their mobile phone away before setting off on a trip to ensure that concentration is fully directed on the road and other cars.

In 2014, Zurich partnered with RoadSafetyUAE.com to increase public awareness of the causes of poor driving and to encourage a culture of responsibility and safe practice among UAE-based motorists.

Thomas Edelman, founder of RoadSafetyUAE.com, added: “Raising awareness of driving distractions is important to improve the level of road safety in the UAE….

“Driving distractions play a role in motorists swerving lanes, driving too close to the vehicle in front, misjudging traffic situations and other leading causes of road accidents.

“It is important for motorists to be consciously aware of the many sources of distraction. Motorists must actively reflect on the distractions that they are most prone to succumb to and then actively combat those distractions. At the same time, we must also be aware of other potentially distracted traffic participants.”

According to the research, drivers favour a range of methods to stay focused on the roads, including listening to the radio (33 per cent) and caffeinated drinks (17 per cent), while speed cameras (29 per cent) and police presence (21 per cent) also aid concentration.

The single biggest factor in being able to concentrate, however, was being alone while driving (51 per cent).

Put a brake on distractions

Of the top distractions, the behaviour of other drivers on UAE roads emerged as the leading cause with 59 per cent of respondents admitting to the same.

In second place were passengers speaking to you (44 per cent), followed by changing the radio (40 per cent), adjusting the air conditioning (34 per cent) and poorly behaved children (34 per cent), rounding up the top five positions.

Meanwhile, other respondents complained of the complex road systems (33 per cent), followed by road signs (32per cent), using mobile phones (30 per cent), reading maps/sat nav (25 per cent) and reaching for objects in the car (25 per cent).

Experts have advised tips on staying focused on the roads by putting away the mobile phone, refraining from driving when tired, taking regular breaks on longer trips, asking passengers to respect the role of the driver and always expecting the worst from other drivers.

The Emirates Motoring Survey was conducted between June 15, 2014 and June 23, 2014, where 1,007 residents living in all seven emirates were surveyed online by YouGov.

Respondents were asked about their driving experience in the UAE and asked to share what distracted them from remaining focused on the road.