Dubai: Motorists have been warned against using their phones to send text messages while driving, saying it can pose danger to life or lead to permanent injury.
The call was made a day after the tragic death of Emirati footballer Diab Awana, who according to his friend Hamdan Al Kamali, was on the phone with him minutes before his car crashed into a lorry, causing his death.
The footballer's team mate Hamdan Al Kamali told Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm that Awana was on the phone with him minutes before the accident. A picture of Al Kamali's Blackberry showed exchanged Blackberry Messenger (BBM) messages sent by Al Kamali to Awana.
Dubai Police Chief Lieutenant General Dahi Kha lfan Tamim announced yesterday that a traffic safety campaign against speeding would be launched soon to combat this trend which is causing tragic loss of life.
Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, said some drivers make mistakes that they believe are simple, but which may have a grave effect and cause the death of innocent people.
Maj Gen Al Zafein said using a mobile phone while driving is one of the main causes of serious traffic accidents, especially if the phone is hand held. "Drivers who want to make call while driving should stop immediately on the right side of the road before they make the call," he said.
Maj Gen Al Zafein said those who speak on the phone while driving not only lose control of their vehicles, but also lose their concentration and focus, which should always be on the road.
"Using a smartphone such as Blackberry or iPhone to send a text message or chat is taken lightly by drivers because they do it time after time and get away with it, but each time a driver does that, he is increasing the risk of getting killed or permanently disabled," Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
"Most of the drivers who use these smartphones while driving are young people who are attracted to the latest gadgets, and they happen to be the ones with the least experience on the road and cannot access the gravity of the situation," he said.
He also warned of other serious offences, including jumping a red light, which is the most dangerous violation and in most cases results in death or serious injury.
Failure to leave a safe distance between vehicles, especially on highways, tops the list of violations among drivers in Dubai, while truck drivers who fail to follow the rules are another cause of hazard on the highways, Maj Gen Al Zafein said.
Racing, reckless driving, sudden swerving and speeding are extremely dangerous as well, according to him.
He also urged drivers to be careful during adverse weather conditions expected in the next few days, specially during rains or dusty conditions, which affect visibility.
