Late starts prompt speeding in most cases

Dubai: Punctuality is a test for many residents, or so it appears, with a newly released survey revealing that running late is the main trigger for speeding in the UAE.

“People have to get in the habit of starting their day early, which will also reduce the level of stress. If the weather is bad, people should leave their homes earlier,” said Thomas Edelmann, Founder of RoadSafetyUAE.com, which carried out the research along with global insurer Zurich for the survey conducted by YouGov.

According to the survey, 67 per cent of respondents said that running late for appointments was the main reason for them speeding, 53 per cent said they sought to impress others, and 45 per cent said it had become a habit. Others said their knowledge of speed camera locations was a factor in speeding (39 per cent), there’s one section who reckon roads are designed for speed (27 per cent), while 22 per cent said they drove at speed to test a car’s capabilities, and 21 per cent of respondents justified their actions as being more acceptable in the UAE than back home.

The survey further showed that 15 per cent of motorists thought they were unlikely to get caught for speeding, and five per cent said they were undeterred by ‘low’ speeding fines.

“What we need in this country is a deeper understanding into the triggers and behaviour [of motorists], and change the road culture so people can respect each other on the roads,” said Edelmann, who explained that time management plays a crucial role in the prevention of speeding.

According to the survey, 18 per cent of respondents admitted to driving over 140 km/h, with five per cent claiming to have driven at speeds between 180-260km/h. Abu Dhabi motorists were more likely to speed than their counterparts with 26 per cent claiming to have driven in excess of 140km/h, while Dubai motorists ranked lower at 15 per cent and Sharjah at 13 per cent.

“Speeding is one of the main killers on our roads but thankfully awareness of its dangers is now firmly established. Of concern, however, ignorance seems to have been replaced by ambivalence, with too many young motorists disregarding the clear risks and habitually speeding on the UAE’s roads,” said Brian Reilly, Chief Executive of Zurich Insurance Middle East.

Furthermore, 86 per cent of respondents said the current speed limits were appropriate or too high, while 12 per cent said they were set too low and 1 per cent wanted them removed altogether.