A simple system to ease stress

Timers above traffic lights make driving around Ajman enjoyable, as nobody is nervous about when the light turns green.

We just spent a wonderful weekend in Ajman. Was it the delicious food, comfortable hotel room or excellent facilites that made our weekend? No - it was the traffic lights.

Ajman has implemented a simple system to ease stress, queue jumping and the revving of engines - a simple timer above the traffic lights at main junctions.

This wonderful idea allows drivers to relax for 60 seconds, put on their hand brakes and stretch, unwrap a sweet, change the CD or turn around and speak to their children.

There is no sitting with your foot on the pedal, revving and waiting for the light to turn. This device increases safety, reduces tension and helps the environment.

When the light changes, all the drivers move forward together. On stopping, even those of us with the genes of Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher - all Formula One racers - can see that we cannot travel 10 metres in under one second, so we slow down and wait patiently until the timer finishes its countdown.

Dubai needs less stress, road rage and reduced carbon emissions from car exhausts. The Roads and Transport Auth-ority (RTA) can look into this cost-effective way of reducing stress and help motorists become nicer to each other.

It is the little things that make the biggest difference.

The reader is a safety consultant based in Dubai.