UAE: Dad still in pain years after losing son to stunt driving

Sharjah - Dad appeals to residents to stick to speed limits as another teen loses life in accident

Tragic incidents of young motorists killed on the road because of reckless driving bring back painful memories for Mohammed bin Saleem, a government employee in Sharjah. He lost his 23-year-old son in a car crash a few years ago. But it feels like yesterday, he said, especially when he reads about new fatal accidents involving the youth.

Earlier this week, a 17-year-old Emirati died in Ras Al Khaimah after a car stunt his friend was pulling off went wrong. His friend was also 17 years old and an unlicensed driver.

In the case of Saleem’s son, the young man was found driving too fast, causing his car to flip over several times, leading to his death. “The news was very painful for me and more painful for his mother. We are still affected,” he said. Since then, Saleem has been stern in reminding his 21-year-old son and 16-year-daughter to stick to speed limits and follow traffic rules.

There’s no room for street racing, road stunts, and reckless driving on UAE roads, the police have repeatedly warned. A zero-tolerance policy is enforced, with violators facing hefty fines.

Reckless drivers in the UAE are penalised with a Dh2,000 fine and 23 black points (having more than 24 black points could get a driver’s licence revoked). Vehicles could also be impounded for up to 60 days.

Young motorists racing on streets are usually seen during the winter season and school breaks, police officials in Sharjah and Ajman told Khaleej Times.

In Abu Dhabi, the police have on many occasions arrested youths for high-speed drifting and zipping through highways and neighbourhoods. Serious traffic violations like street racing and beating the red light caused 894 accidents that claimed 66 lives in 2019 in Abu Dhabi. As a result, the police introduced stiffer penalties for such offences, with immediate vehicle impoundment and fines of up to Dh50,000.

Muhsin Al Hamadi, a university student, just got his driver’s licence this year. He admitted that he would sometimes go past speed limits. “But more often than not, I try to be careful because many of my friends and classmates have already been involved in horrific speeding accidents. Some ended up dead, while others are now in wheelchairs for life.”

Why do young drivers risk their lives just like that? Mohamed Al Kutbi, another college student, said that sometimes, street racing becomes a dare or a duel of sorts. “Once, two of my friends got into a heated discussion and threw a challenge on their driving skills. They took the matter to the road in Al Dhaid (Sharjah),” Al Kutbi said. One of them was killed. “I still remember him and his absence has affected my life,” he added.

Some reckless drivers even go as far as deliberately filming their stunt for social media. Whenever such videos reach the police, violators are caught in no time.

“We never tolerate youths who organise these race meets and those recording stunts and sharing them online. These are serious violations of the law,” the police said.

Brig Shaikh Sultan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ajman Police, said the police have recently stepped up a crackdown on dangerous driving practices. “A number of teenagers were caught by patrols while they were organising a rally, endangering other motorists on the road.”

Some of the confiscated vehicles were caught with engine modifications that produce excessive noise (See box).

“Police have tightened measures against these teenagers to deter others from committing the same violation, and the department is determined to end this phenomenon as soon as possible,” he added.