Dubai: Scores of drivers who observed traffic rules on the roads were rewarded in the annual five-day Caltex RoadStar campaign.
Nine motorists drove away yesterday with cash prizes and won the RoadStar title on the campaign's final day. They received Dh750 each in addition to other gifts and a certificate endorsed by Dubai Police for abiding by traffic rules.
Saed M. Ghazanfar, a Pakistani, who has been driving in the UAE for over 30 years, said there had been many changes in recent years.
"In the past, there were few accidents and only people who were on good salaries had cars, but today driving has become difficult and traffic accidents have increased," he said.
He said his family was delighted he had won the title of RoadStar because his wife always asked him to be careful on the roads and drive safely, even if meant he came back a little late.
"I am very happy to be a safe driver and it was a surprise because I did not know about the campaign before. I will send the money I won to my daughter back home," said Sayed Mohammad, a personal driver.
Roshanara Sait, the Marketing and Business Development Director at the Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF), said the aim of the campaign was not to change driving habits overnight but to create public awareness. The second phase of the campaign will be held towards the end of the year.
While Caltex is the main sponsor, Gulf News, Radio 2 and Wheels are media partners and Lexus, Al Futtaim Motors, and Bridgestone are the support sponsors. The winners on the final day were Sayed Mohammad, Saed M. Ghazanfar, Fatinah Abu Somous, Mohammad Yousuf, Svetlana Majaroff, P. C. Razak, Esen Gurbaz, Emily Flintoff, Natalie Lineveldt, Ali Dehmes, Asadullah Fareedullah and Sudeer Punnery.
