The decision by Dubai Police to penalise tailgaters via radars from July 1 could not have come sooner. This dangerous road-bullying tactic is endemic to Dubai roads and the sooner the culrpits are brought to book, the better it will be to make roads safer. While the efficacy of the five-metre buffer distance between vehicles travelling at 80km/h is drawing diverse reactions from motorists, what has garnered unanimity is the decision by the Dubai Police to use radars to catch culprits. This minimises the chance of offenders getting away compared to vigilant police personnel manually spotting them.
Tailgating places immense physical and mental stress on a motorist. Studies have shown that this form of road-bullying leads to an accelerated heart rate, high levels of frustration, anxiety and stress that can potentially fog the victim’s brain, interfere with his reflexes and decision-making abilities, heightening the chances of an accident. Just like every other form of bullying — on school grounds, in an office or in society — bullying on the road is a reprehensible act that must be brought under control at the earliest.
