Roadstar contest gives safe drivers in Abu Dhabi pleasant surprises

Abu Dhabi: When Anita Odland Pedersen was approached by a police officer as she parked her car, her heart raced and she pondered if she had committed a traffic violation.

In her 23 years of driving, she had received a ticket or two for parking offences but has never committed any serious offence. "What have I done?" she thought. To her pleasant surprise, the officer congratulated her for exemplary driving skills and handed over a cash prize and certificate of merit.

"I consider myself a safe driver. But for a moment I was a bit confused. I was on my way to the Marina Mall for shopping," said Pedersen, who moved with her family to Abu Dhabi this August from Norway.

She was one of the 30 drivers who were rewarded on Monday as part of the annual Caltex Roadstar contest.

The contest, organised by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF) in association with the traffic police, kicked off on Monday in the capital.

The objective of the contest is to promote safe driving habits, organisers said.

Lookout

A group of traffic police officials along with EMSF are touring the city in unmarked vehicles on the lookout for drivers who follow traffic rules and regulations.

Officials discreetly follow the drivers for a while before deciding on their driving skills. Safe drivers who are chosen are rewarded with an instant cash prize of Dh750 along with a certificate from the traffic department.

Drivers are judged based on whether they follow basic rules such as wearing a seat belt, using hands-free cell phone sets, using indicators, child safety seats, observing lane discipline and courtesy in addition to adhering to speed limits.

"The best thing about winning this contest is that it will help me teach the importance of wearing a seat belt to my daughter," said Allan Peak, another winner.

"I keep telling my daughter, aged six, to buckle up. Since she was there as I was rewarded by the police, the message will definitely be reinforced in a better way." said Peak from Canada who has been driving for more than 31 years.

Although the contest was scheduled to begin on Sunday, organisers had to postpone the start due to heavy rains.

The contest will be held in Dubai on Tuesday and Wednesday and will move to Sharjah on Thusrday. In all, Dh60,000 will be given out in rewards.