Dubai: The road infrastructure in the UAE is getting so much better and safer than ever. Unfortunately, most drivers are not.
According to the latest research commissioned by Qatar Insurance Company and RoadSafety UAE, the country’s roads are still packed with distracted drivers – those who use their mobile phones behind the wheels- as well as tailgaters and careless lane switchers.
The study polled more than 1,000 residents in the UAE in order to gauge road users’ perception towards the quality of roads and driving habits of motorists in the country.
Among those questioned, the majority (83 per cent) strongly agreed/agreed that the country’s road infrastructure has improved. Many also acknowledged that they now enjoy driving around the country ( 57 per cent compared to 53 per cent six months earlier). There are also lesser people who find that driving to work is taking longer.
However, drivers are still figuring in road mishaps and getting annoyed with fellow motorists who stick to dangerous driving habits. According to the survey, about two in ten people (22 per cent) admitted that they have been in a vehicle collision in the last six months, up from 21 per cent who said the same thing in the previous survey.
Nearly eight in ten (75 per cent) said they have seen more distracted motorists on the roads, or those using their mobile phones while driving). Nearly half (43 per cent) agreed that there appears to be more cars tailgating on the thoroughfares, compared to 40 per cent who shared the same view in the last survey.
Motorists who abruptly change lanes without warning have also been reported by 67 per cent of the respondents, up from 66 per cent earlier.
According to Thomas Edelmann, the results of the study showed that “enforcement and infrastructure improvement” are still needed. He indicated that drivers’ perceptions should not be ignored as these are excellent indicator for the work of all stakeholders involved in road safety.
“While the observed trends are positive or stable, the numbers are high, and further efforts in education, enforcement and infrastructure improvement are needed by al concerned stakeholders, public and private entities and the media,” he said in a statement.
