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Taking the risk off the roads

The Italian, the bunny rabbit or the dishwasher — which sort of driver are you? Students from five colleges/universities around the city are finding out this week that none of these options are right as they learn how to become better drivers.

A driving skills challenge, launched by FedEx Express and endorsed by Dubai Police and the Emirates Motor Sports Federation, will try and sway students away from speed to more cautious driving.

Ciel Marketing and Events director and organiser Roshanara Sait said the 17-23 age-group was the one of the most at risk, with many accidents and fatalities in this bracket each year.

There was a “dire need” to cultivate safe driving habits, as these were very new drivers who lacked experience and were often over-confident, she said.

“... if you drive around in the Academic City, it’s quite scary.

“This programme is there to constantly remind them to keep within the road rules and obey at all times, and that it’s not just confidence that makes a good driver, but also awareness and anticipation.”

From March 17 to 25, more than 2,000 students from Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Dubai Women’s College and Dubai Men’s College campuses, BITS Pilani, American University in Dubai and Manipal University will attend interactive lectures and learn practical skills.

Subjects include the correct driving position with hands at 3 and 9 o’clock, as opposed to the most common seen in the UAE: the laid-back ‘Italian’ with one hand on the seat, the hunched-up ‘bunny rabbit’ with their chin over the wheel, or the ‘dishwasher’ who “waves the wheel this way and that with one hand”, she said.

Avoiding distractions such as loud stereos, stress, fatigue and technology were also covered with the use of graphic videos to shock the students.

Many people still drove while using a mobile phone on UAE roads, despite it being illegal, she said.

Other common driving mistakes seen in the UAE included driving on two lanes, cutting across four lanes, driving with hazard lights on, and ‘target fixation’ where drivers lose control after looking at something on the side of the road, she said.

Many of the students also didn’t realise just how long it took to stop a car. As speed doubled, the stopping distance quadrupled — while it might take 15 metres to stop when driving at 40km/hr, it took 240 metres to stop when driving at 160km/hr, she said.

Students will also get to experience a real “roll-over” in a simulator to see how important seatbelts are.

The six best drivers from a driving competition would be appointed Road Safety Ambassadors, who would role-model their good driving skills to other students, Sait said.

FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa senior vice-president operations David Ross said while the government had implemented numerous road safety initiatives, it was also important for companies to play their part in educating the public about best practice.

sarah@khaleejtimes.com