Reining in risk of motoring

Most of us arriving here are more than slightly nervous at the prospect of driving in the fast lane.

Perhaps not so much for those who may have already braved traffic in major cities like New York, Johannesburg or Mumbai, but for someone whose primary cause for road anxiety during her brief driving career had up until recently been kudu (a large horned buck common in South Africa's rural areas with a reputation for jumping into headlights), the idea of driving on any arterial road was not merely daunting - it was quite terrifying.

The first time I drove my car in Dubai, I had driven but once in International City, and that hardly qualifies as big city driving. But at least I had the chance to acquaint myself with a left-side drive vehicle and attempted the right-hand side of the road [gulp].

The only reason I did the International City trip on the eve of acquiring my car was because a friend took pity on me and realised the imperative of my having at least a bit of practice before jumping behind the wheel. Other friends weren't as understanding. They had been driving for a while already and merely brushed off my fear, saying, "You'll be fine. We all were."

How easily we forget that initial consuming dread.

Of course, and more likely, they could have simply feared for the fate of their cars.

Nevertheless, the next morning after this first driving test I registered my (first) car at the RTA. The past owner chucked the keys at me and asked if I could drop him off. I was left in a cold sweat. Needless to say, after just a few minutes, he told me that ‘here was fine' to drop him off - ‘here' being close to the off ramp onto the E11. Clearly he was as petrified as I was.

If you remember what it was like turning into a traffic-heaving six-lane road for the first time, you'll sympathise. Driving at a snail's pace, cars hooting at you with impatience, you're convinced that all and sundry are out to ram into your bumper…

I finally managed to pull over onto a slip road and phone a friend, deliriously stammering ‘I-I-I d-did it!' (um, drove 500 metres at 70km/h only to chicken out onto Al Hajar Road). My friend then had to meet me to escort me to work. But even though its been a few months now and I'm at relative ease in the fast lane of Shaikh Zayed Road, I'm still a bit paranoid, particularly when I spot drivers swerving into my lane without checking their blind spot.

Road accidents are irrevocably on the list of those horribly nagging statistics that constantly pop up in your mind every time you twist the key in the ignition. They are a high risk consideration for any urban dweller, and drivers living in cities in the UAE are no exception to this.

But we can be better equipped to avoid accidents by being mindful of certain driving techniques that encourage extreme caution.

While these techniques are unlikely to be taught in your initial driving course, the good news is that the Emirates Driving Institute (EDI), a subsidiary of Emirates Driving, has introduced its Defensive Driving Course, specifically designed to meet the demanding road requirements of the UAE and the GCC.

I braced the theory and practical aspects to put my driving skills to the test.

This course is entirely different from previous methods of a non-interactive style of instruction and aims to develop each individual's abilities through individual coaching techniques.

Basically, the idea is to encourage us to take responsibility not only for our safety, but also for the safety of others around us (tell that to the speedsters). The course focuses on observational skills and also delves into the psychology of driving.

It's designed not for learner drivers, but for those who have been driving for a few years and need to lube up that engine... your brain. Meeting with my trainer, we proceed to recap on observational skills, gain an understanding of driving risks in the region specifically, learn more about the psychology of driving and develop my personal risk profile [big gulp].

It is important to understand (and this was a huge relief to me) that you are not examined in this course - it is merely an assessment of your existing driving skills and an opportunity to improve. And let's face it - we could all do with a bit of that!

Reality check

I was not too surprised to hear that 96 per cent of accidents are a result of human error. Studies done in government hospitals show that stress levels of drivers have a marked effect on road-related activities.

I am in great admiration of those drivers who remain cool, calm and so annoyingly collected when stuck in traffic. I, on the other hand, see red - lots of it. A traffic jam is the proverbial flag and the matador scenario - the bull, of course, being me.

That's not to say I haven't made an effort to try and de-stress. I've tried deep yoga breathing (which instead turns into uncontrollable hyperventilation). I've tried Pan Pipe Moods and Enya and the synthesised form of trickling water and dolphin sounds by way of my CD player. It doesn't work. The only occasional relief I received was by eating dark chocolate in the car in an effort to counteract the rage with some happiness-inducing flavonoids. But given the high frequency of traffic jams, this was not a long-term solution since I was putting on weight.

So how can we beat raging against the machines?

We need to drive with emotional intelligence, EDI advises. We need to recognise aggression and faulty thinking in others and we too, need to control our ‘other brain' (read: our rage catalyst).

As Benjamin Franklin said: "Age is never without reason, but seldom with a good one."

Every one of us has an EQ (governing our emotional intelligence) - an innate ability to identify, assess and manage our own emotions. This basically translates to the ways in which we understand, perceive, use and manage our emotions.

When it comes to driving and anger management, there are steps we can take to change our thinking. What we need to do is to realise that anger is something we choose rather than thinking of it as something that is provoked. We need to grasp what is and what isn't in our control (Emotions? In control. Traffic? Sadly not.)

We need to be able to prioritise the consequences rather than give in to impulse. By responding to provocation, we lose control of the situation.

And no one likes a loss of control.

The problem with road rage is that anger can quickly and uncontrollably morph into violence. Most of us have experienced this at some point. Violence can take many forms but ultimately, the goal is to punish the offending driver.

The punishment could include cutting him/her off and steering him/her into stopping in a corner next to the barrier when a lane closes. It's all down to, I'm told, a rather erratic and very grumpy limbic system. The limbic system - that ‘other' brain - is what controls our emotions. It's quick to react and slow to reset. Once it has kicked in, it takes a minimum of four hours to relax. It could remain triggered for days (my temper makes a lot more sense now that I know it's not just due to the redhead gene.)

The other problem is that anger builds on anger very easily. If you lose your temper often, you will actively look for an opportunity to lose your temper.

So how do we control it?

EDI says that we need to recognise potential causes for annoyance. We can intervene by using our EQ to seize and challenge our thoughts.

First, adjust your breathing (back to that yoga thing). Second, in the manner of Peter Pan, conjure up positive mental images. Third, be conscious of your grip on the wheel and release when you feel your fists are balling up. Most of all, remember to SMACK! (and not in the physical sense here) but Smart Acts of Courtesy or Kindness - the formula for a good EQ.

Testing my mettle

It is with some trepidation that I meet my instructor to take the test… well, evaluation, to be correct.

My instructor, Mushtaq Ahmad Koteshwar, is very friendly, approachable and puts me at ease. I'm almost looking forward to putting all this theory to practice.

Until he pops the hood of the car. "Let's see how much attention you were paying," he says.

Uh oh…

I'm technically not very savvy. To put things into perspective: I once put unleaded petrol into a vehicle which I was well aware used diesel, simply in an effort to be more environmentally-friendly. The engine was not the only thing that nearly blew up. My father yelled blue murder and banned me from driving the farm vehicle for all eternity.

Anyway, so here I was, faced with a maze of pipes, containers and wires and being quizzed on all manner of oil types (in my head: extra virgin and sunflower). And then it struck me… FLOWER! An easy way to remember Fuel, Lights, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber (tyres, fanbelt). Check! Phew.

Getting behind the wheel, I'm reminded to remember the EDI mantra: Observation, Anticipation and Planning.

Obviously, I have a heightened awareness of the demarcations, lines, traffic signals, signs, pedestrians, other vehicles and so on. I'm seeing the bigger picture all the more clearly, because I've just been drilled with these key points. I'm also being watched beadily by my instructor.

I look well ahead and aim my vision high. I use my central and peripheral vision and keep my eyes moving, scanning rather than fixing my gaze. I am like a fly seeing every swat attempt in slow motion, because I am all the more conscious of potential hazards.

I am the Sherlock Holmes of the road at this point, sniffing out anything remotely suspicious. I avoid staying parallel with trucks and either speed up or slow down to stay clear of cruising in their blind spot. Much of this course focuses on anticipation.

We already have bodies of experience behind us from our years of driving. We have, to some degree, already developed a level of driving instinct and intuition. We simply need to be wholly in tune with these abilities.

Planning is key to ensure smooth control of the vehicle and will determine a less hasty course of action. Koteshwar encourages self-commentary: "It makes you more attentive, ensuring a questioning frame of mind. It helps you make earlier decisions, ultimately making for safer, more aware driving," he explains.

At the end of the session, you're graded on your driving performance. Given my country bumpkin driver's license and my limited time in Dubai, mine was, umm, not flawless.

But it was comforting to see that my abilities are pretty sound and it's good to know which areas I need to be more mindful of (I really do give truck and bus blind spots a wide berth now).

My friends who wouldn't let me drive their cars can now stop giving me grief, as I am officially an ‘advanced driver' post EDI course.

While I may still feel the heat creep up my neck when some guy in a sports car whizzes past me in a blinding flash leaving me with a speed wobble and a near immediate ulcer, I take a few deep breaths and relax (although an evil laugh still wheezes out as I see cameras flashing in his wake).

To a great extent, your safety really can be up to you.

Belt it, boot it, shut it

Risk is everywhere, and our cars, while familiar, are not devoid of danger. We need to be mindful as to what constitutes a hazard factor in our vehicles. Trinkets and accessories, such as danglers from your rear-view mirror, can create new blind spots. Laptops, briefcases and shopping bags should never be kept in the car - they should always be stored in the boot. In a full impact accident, your laptop can hit you with a peak force of 3.5 tonnes at 80km/h.

Although there is no rule in the UAE that backseat passengers buckle up, it is important to do so. It is proven that in a full impact accident, an unrestrained passenger can kill you.

Unrestrained children should also be safely strapped in. They should not be hanging out of the side windows or standing between the front seats (unceremoniously, but within good reason, dubbed ‘the killing zones') - they should be securely buckled, sitting down, in the backseat. Consider too that a child weighing 25kg can travel up to 5 metres at 80km/h in a high impact accident.

Don't speak on your mobile at all while driving as you are four times more likely to have an accident when doing so - the same statistic applies when using hands-free devices.

You can minimise risk by planning your route beforehand. Knowing your route minimises haphazard driving which accompanies uncertainty. Don't be reactive - be proactive. Try and pre-empt situations as far as possible. While many cars have introduced strews of high-tech, gizmo-heavy gadgets and safety devices, there is no substitute for performing mandatory services and your own regular checks.

In between major services, you can do the basic checks yourself on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Remember to run a check on FLOWER: Fuel, Lights, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber (tyres, fanbelt). Often times, problems arise because of low fluid levels, such as overheating due to low water and engine troubles due to dirty or low oil.

Driving Taboos

Don't…

Use a phone while driving - even when one's hands are free, pull over (in a safe spot) and stop.

Eat or drink while you're driving

Attend to children while driving

Attempt to drive when feeling drowsy - stop and stretch as a temporary solution. If very drowsy, pull over and take a power nap for not more than 15 minutes.

Most common types of accidents

1.Side impacts

2.Run-off road and ‘static' collisions When leaving the road, our first instinct is to veer back onto the road immediately. Emirates Driving Institute advises that you gain control of the vehicle first before returning to the road.

3. Rear-end impacts

4.Full head-on and partial head-on These accidents account for 60 per cent of fatalities.