Speed kills

Next time you step on the accelerator and zoom past a car that is annoying annoying because it is going to slow , think about the potential consequences of your actions. A single moment can drastically change your life and the lives of others, and a few simple measures can save you from a tragedy that could take your life.

This is the message Salah Abdullah Yousuf Al Hamadi, General in the Department of Traffic in Dubai, conveyed to Dubai Men's College (DMC) students during a presentation on aggressive driving. Al Hamadi showed students photographs that illustrated the consequences of speeding and gave them pointers on how to stay safe on the roads.

The causes

When students were asked whether they were guilty of speeding, they all said yes. Majid Bin Hafidh, an information technology student, attributed speeding to congested Dubai roads.

"In Dubai, there is always a lot of traffic and it's very stressful. It's a frustrating feeling when you're in your car and you can't move," he said. "So when you finally get on the freeway, you have that urge to speed – it is a way of defying the traffic you've been stuck in for hours."

However Al Hamadi said this wasn't a valid excuse to put lives in danger. "Everyone knows that traffic exists in Dubai, so there's no point in trying to escape it," he said.

Some students attributed their driving habits to a hereditary "need for speed" that they say is prevalent in Arab culture. "We have a history of racing. Long ago, from the time of the Bedouins, we used to horse race," Hafidh said. "It's something that has been ingrained in our blood."

Other students shared Hafidh's views, adding that driving fast is a way to "show off" driving abilities. "Driving fast and doing so carefully takes skill," said Saeed Omar, a foundation student.

Al Hamadi said: "Students often think: 'I'm king of the road. I have a Mercedes Benz or a BMW and nothing can happen to me'. They couldn't be more wrong."

Rules and regulations

Students said Roads and Transport Authority regulations often have the opposite effect on them, encouraging them to challenge the rules. "There are large empty roads that require you to drive at 80km/h," said Omar. "Radars are good, but only if used rationally. We shouldn't forget the point of the radars – they are to encourage safe driving, not to make money."

The issue was repeatedly raised during the presentation, with students saying radar limitations should be reconsidered, particularly on the Dubai Academic City Road. However Al Hamadi emphasised that these radars are placed for students' safety, particularly on main roads that parallel schools and universities. "There is no excuse for you to speed," he said. "You're well aware of the traffic conditions in Dubai. What's better, getting up a little early in the morning or harming yourself on the roads?"

More needs to be done

Students reluctantly admitted that such presentations would not have an impact on them, and that other approaches need to be taken. "People our age don't think about it, they are desensitised to the dangers," said Mohammad Abdullah, an IT student. "It's something that doesn't cross our minds while we're driving."

Some students suggested that areas be created where they can safely indulge their love for driving. "Each country has its own hobby," said Omar. "Here it's driving fast — so a place must be created to do so safely. The Dubai Autodrome is a start."