Sharjah
The authorities in the UAE are taking all possible efforts to make the road networks in the country the best. One of the simple, yet best indicator to measure the quality of road safety is the number of accidents. But, for this measure, the users of the road share an important and equal responsibility with the authorities. Without the cooperation of the road users, no organisation can make its road network safe.
A few days ago, I was travelling with my family from Al Dhaid to the Masafi area of Ras Al Khaimah. I was extremely shocked to notice many pickup trucks carrying people in an unsafe manner (as seen in photograph). These pickup trucks were travelling at high speeds and the people on board were struggling to maintain their balance.
I saw whole groups of men sitting and standing on the ledge of these pickup trucks, ignoring the basic safety aspects. They are putting their lives and that of the other motorists’ in great danger. Needless to say, this is also an extremely inhumane method of transporting people.
These unsafe acts are very likely to result in accidents, including possible fatalities. The road is not an adventure zone. It is a place to follow rules and safety regulations.
Most of the accidents on the roads occur due to human error. However, the severity of the injury to travellers is reduced by a great deal if safety precautions are taken, like wearing seatbelts, not overloading the vehicle, driving at the correct speed and following the rules. In the issue mentioned above, every safety precaution recommended by the authorities has been ignored.
This is not the first time that I have noticed this scene on this road. An appropriate monitoring and controlling system has to be put in place to stop this unsafe practice. Life is precious and such reckless practices in transportation provides nothing but a free ticket to fatality.
I would like to strongly urge the road users to follow the rules and regulations and not to engage in such unsafe practices. I also request the authorities to be more vigilant and increase the severity of the punishments for such violations and at the same time raise awareness about the benefits of following road rules.
The reader is a pupil based in Sharjah.
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