Dubai: Concern for other road users’ safety and thoughts of their families motivated ten drivers to drive safely on Dubai roads on Monday.
Their efforts did not go unnoticed as they were each recognised as Dubai’s 10 safest road drivers and given Dh1,000 prize money on Monday under the Porsche RoadStar Campaign.
Hany Mohammad, 32, an Egyptian architect, said he did everything by the book when he was driving his kids home on Monday when police flagged him. For him, his family’s safety is his top priority.
“I’ve always been a safe driver and sometimes people make fun of me because of it,” Mohammad told Gulf News.
“But I do it because I know that this life isn’t mine. I have a wife and two kids and I’m responsible for them. And I know that if I drive safely, I can save other people’s lives by not getting involved in accidents.”
Another winner, Mohammad Ebrahim, 31, said he drives safely for the sake of other road users as well.
“I don’t want to be the reason behind someone’s misfortune. It’s easy to be concerned only about your own well-being, but I think we should all start caring about how our actions can impact others on the road,” said Ebrahim, who is a company van driver.
The Pakistani expat added that he never starts the vehicle without first wearing a seat belt, never speeds, and never uses the phone when behind the wheel.
“Driving is not a game. If you take it as a game, then you’re playing with your life and the lives of others, too.”
Now in its 16th year, Porsche Roadstar organisers will drive around Dubai again on Tuesday to spot ten safe drivers before going to Sharjah on Wednesday and Thursday.
The campaign focuses on what drivers are meant to do on the road — observe basic principles of careful driving such as the use of indicators, seat belts and hands-free mobile phone kits.
