Opinions | City Talk
Impatient drivers are leading cause of crashes in UAE
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents whether they think the way roads have been designed or the many diversions during construction work contribute to accidents in the UAE.
- By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Dina Shammaa and Fuad Ali
- Published: 00:07 May 18, 2008
- Nazem Youssef thinks driving schools should play a bigger role in preventing accidents because they do not teach students general courtesy.
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah: Road accidents have become such a familiar sight that many people don't even look twice anymore.
Traffic accidents in all parts of the country are mentioned regularly in radio traffic updates.
Accidents are caused by a number of reasons, such as fog, speeding, obstructions or jumping U-turns ahead of time.
In a recent Gulf News poll on how U-turns could be made safer, 59 per cent of respondents said traffic lights should be installed, 26 per cent said the view should not be obstructed and the remaining 14 per cent said there should be speed bumps.
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents whether they think the way roads have been designed or the many diversions during construction work contribute to accidents, or are motorists themselves at fault? Should all U-turns be equipped with traffic lights?
Nazem Youssef, American scuba diving instructor, 24, said: "The main reason for accidents is because of people's attitude towards other drivers. They think that they have to be first in line and have the right of way. Driving schools should play a bigger role in preventing accidents because they do not teach students general courtesy. Traffic lights should not be put at U-turns because people should have the common sense not to jump at the wrong time. If motorists were not so impatient, then the system would work well."
Baby Jane Bernardino, job-seeker, Philippines, 27, said: "A lot of the road accidents happen because the road designs are complicated and the majority of people don't know where the diversions are. But accidents also happen because drivers do not concentrate. I think traffic lights at U-turns will prevent many accidents."
Sherif Raslan, Egyptian engineer, 28, said: "Drivers are the source of all dangerous actions on the roads. Many causes of accidents are also linked to environmental factors such as fog, sand storms, rain and sometimes direct sunlight. Other factors may be connected to the condition of some cars."
Filipina receptionist Grace Moreno, 37, said: "Lanes are clear and safe. The problem has to do with some motorists who drive too fast. I have no idea how some of these drivers get their licence. I've seen a lot of teenagers drive in a hasty way and even driving instructors at times give the wrong information about driving rules. I feel having signals at U-turns will be convenient because it will slow cars down and result in less careless driving."
Maple Amurao, radiographer, Philippines, said: "The roads in the UAE are nice. There is no comparison to the roads in the Philippines. Accidents happen due to reckless driving, especially among young people and I feel there should be as many signals as possible, even at U-turns, since some people do not see at night and when they need to make a U-turn the sign is not visible enough. Having a traffic signal would help at night especially."
Fat'hi Khaleel Qasim, driver, Egypt, 39, said: "It is true that the design of the roads could be a factor in some accidents, but overall, drivers should take ultimate responsibility because we all know where the diversions are, and they should slow down and pay more attention. There should be more traffic lights at some U-turns and roundabouts because at times drivers don't make the right judgment and put lives in danger. Traffic lights will make things clear for everyone and even though some drivers will not like to be delayed, the introduction of traffic lights will cut out unnecessary risk-taking."
Emily Tagura, sales representative, Philippines, 30, said: "The lack of concentration by drivers is the main reason why accidents happen so often. The road planning is not that big a problem. The problem is when everyone is trying to cut you off and jump ahead of everyone else, that is when accidents happen because everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere."
Abeed Hussain, engineer from India, 35, said: "I don't believe we can blame road designs or diversions for accidents because here in the UAE they are of high technical quality. I think drivers must take full responsibility for their driving because they are the ones in control. Most accidents happen because some drivers are careless and many do not exercise the right judgment at the right time."
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