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For a safer journey
A Gulf News report published in March this year reported that more than 1.2 million people are killed and about 50 million injured in road accidents each year across the globe.
- By Neesha C. Salian, Staff Writer
- Published: 00:00 August 19, 2006
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A Gulf News report published in March this year reported that more than 1.2 million people are killed and about 50 million injured in road accidents each year across the globe. The report also quoted an official from the World Health Organisation Eastern Mediterranean Region, who said that the casualties could go up by 65 per cent if more preventive efforts were not taken.
These numbers, though unsettling, paint a grim picture of what lies ahead if we don't take our responsibilities as drivers seriously. Dubai, which has the highest rate of road accidents in the UAE, will have to take the lead in ensuring that road mishaps and resulting fatalities are curbed. While the police are implementing stringent measures, people need to be more aware that their behaviour on the road can make Dubai safer for other drivers.
"Dubai has some of the best designed roads in the world, which have been planned by experts to keep traffic moving in a fast-growing commercial city. However, drivers in Dubai need to show a little more responsibility and discipline on the road. Most of the accidents taking place here are a result of driver negligence. In fact, more than the skill of the driver, it is the attitude towards driving, safety and discipline that needs to be addressed," says Adam Kechil, Director of Training and Head of Road Safety, Belhasa Driving Center, which recently hosted a major international road safety conference, Safex 2006, in association with the international body IVV, in Dubai.
Alix Capper-Murdoch, who is part of the driving division of Brit-Am Defence Ltd., a leading independent risk management and training consultancy, also attributes the problem to different driving standards and poor instruction. "Dubai is a rapidly expanding city with a mix of nationalities. This means that with so many people from numerous countries, there is bound to be a huge difference in the driving standards that people follow. I also feel individuals who are learning how to drive in Dubai are not being taught to a high standard. However, that can only change if the instructors are internationally qualified themselves and teach the same principles to the same high standards."
The government is also taking steps to increase road safety awareness. "The formation of the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has been an important step. They also seem to be moving in the right direction and have already announced that the driving licence exchange programme that exists with some countries will be scrapped and all expatriates will have to take a driving assessment. This is a good start, but they will need to keep the momentum going," says Kechil.
However, people have to also take on some onus individually. Awareness of one's own driving skill is the first step, says Kechil. "First, people need to admit their own shortcomings. If you ask 10 people in the region what they think of their own standard of driving, they will all probably say that it is good and yet the accident figures speak for themselves."
Capper-Murdoch, like Kechil, suggests enrolling in advanced driving courses to hone one's driving skills. "It will help improve your driving skills and could save your life or the life of a family member.
Being able to read the road and anticipate the actions of others is a great skill to have; it even reduces the cost of your insurance bill."
The Belhasa Driving Centre provides specialised courses such as defensive driving, incident avoidance, progressive driver development, DIAmond Advanced Motorists course and a UAE familiarisation course.
In the defensive driving course, for instance, they teach techniques needed to safely operate 4x4 vehicles in this region, with specific emphasis on coping with and handling road hazards.
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