Three simple tips to tackle UAE’s road woes

UAE motorists frequently moan about their experiences on the road. If it’s not lane cutting, it’s about tailgating or letting children run riot on the front seats.

So, what can you do to safeguard yourself and others on the road? Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, says sticking to three simple rules can make a huge difference on road manners.

‘From various data points we collected in the last two years since we launched our road safety platform, we can point out three behavioural changes which would dramatically improve UAE’s road safety,’ says Thomas. And those are: time management; road etiquette and politeness; and strict adherence to fastening seat belts.

While it seem simplistic, the truth is poor time management often leads to UAE’s motorists cutting corners on the road to make up for lost time. This can lead to misbehaviour in the form of speeding, jumping queues and red lights, lane swerving, tailgating and bullying other motorists.

‘A 2015 YouGov survey revealed, that 67 per cent of UAE motorists claim ‘running late’ as being the root cause for their speeding,’ says Thomas. ‘Hence, if motorists start applying proper time management, for example by starting every road trip 10 minutes early, it would reduce the stress levels, and increase the safety of all concerned.’

The egoistic and reckless behaviour of motorists is said to be a main contributor to accidents and near misses.

In a related YouGov study published by RoadSafetyUAE in 2015, 53 per cent of motorists stated roads have become more dangerous, 66 per cent experienced more speeding, and 65 per cent experienced more tailgating. ‘Road etiquette and politeness play a pivotal role – motorists must treat others like they want to be treated, in the same respectful and polite manner,’ says Thomas. ‘We have to care for each other and we must show this in our road behaviour. Even if we are running late or end up in other stressful situations, good manners and a caring attitude for others must prevail.’

In the event of accidents, the best way to avoid injuries or fatalities is to use seatbelts. ‘Forty-five to 60 per cent of fatalities and injuries can be prevented by the use of seatbelts, but many UAE motorists turn a blind eye to those well known facts,’ says Thomas. ‘Our mantra must be: ‘No belt, no start!