Other motorists’ disregard for the rules is driving me crazy

What never fails to set me off during a pleasant drive in the UAE is the driving experience itself, writes Fatima Al Shamsi

 There is something fundamentally flawed in the UAE's overall driving culture.
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It has been a few months since I returned from New York, and adjusting to life in Abu Dhabi has not been too tough. As with anywhere in the world, there are always pros and cons and I am a perpetual optimist reminding myself to be grateful for all of life’s blessings.

For one, I am thankful for the great weather we have been having recently (willfully feigning ignorance regarding the arrival of the summer heat). I am enjoying the proximity of family members who have previously been many time zones away, and I love the fact that there are an abundance of beautiful beaches just a short drive away.

Despite all of this, what never fails to set me off during a pleasant drive is the driving experience itself. It seems like 90 per cent of the population has no idea what a turn signal is. Yet, when I use one, suddenly drivers speed up out of nowhere to ensure that I miss my exit or narrowly escape death trying to navigate from one lane to the other.

It also seems like most drivers have forgotten simple road-safety measures like slowing down before entering a roundabout. Although I recently noticed that all hell breaks loose on the streets when it rains, I was truly shocked to read that, according to Dubai Police, there was an accident approximately every two minutes as a result of last week’s downpours. This is not merely an issue of disregarding safety; it seems to me that there is a definite lack of consideration for other road users at play.

Nothing demonstrates this better than drivers insisting on tailgating, even during rush hour when there is nowhere to go. According to Ministry of the Interior data, nearly 100 deaths and over 1,000 injuries resulted last year from an issue as simple as not leaving enough space between cars.

Tailgating is a frightening form of road bullying that is unfortunately typical on UAE roads. Just the other week, a close friend got rear-ended (for the third time) because the person behind her was speeding and did not notice her slow down at a traffic light. Dubai Police were recently considering implementing a fine for drivers caught tailgating. They have decided to suspend the initiative for now, but I think it should be pursued.

Recent news articles have quoted experts calling for speed limits to be reduced. The annual Global Status Report on Road Safety, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), cites studies demonstrating that a reduction of speed by as little as 5 per cent can reduce the overall death toll related to traffic accidents by 30 per cent. This seems like an easy way to reduce the hundreds of deaths that occur in the UAE each year. However, the circumstances as they stand – with people largely ignoring speed limits between radars – point at a different problem.

There is something fundamentally flawed in the overall driving culture, and it makes me frustrated and angry whenever I am on the roads.

Speed limits are crucial, but it is worth looking at why countries such as Germany, which has no-speed-limit Autobahns, has safer streets overall than the UAE does. Globally, we rank as the 69th safest country, on par with Costa Rica and Albania. While we are the second safest in the GCC region (after Bahrain), we still fare worse than most northern and western European nations, according to WHO statistics. This is because there seems to be a strong disregard for the rules of the road, and we need to find effective ways to communicate to people simple things such as the importance of wearing a seat belt. I still don’t understand why so many people simply refuse to wear one (citing discomfort) or laugh at me when I insist they are essential for back-seat passengers as well as those in the front.

Furthermore, nothing makes me more anxious than seeing children either jumping around inside a car or with their limbs dangling from open windows.

We need to set different punishments to fit levels of infractions and find a better way to monitor and implement them. Tailgating, seat belts and the non-use of child seats all need to be taken seriously. But this is not enough. We need better role models for future drivers, and we need families to take an active role in making sure that their children drive safely. Young drivers who regularly cause accidents should not be rewarded with new cars. Attitude changes start at home and at schools.

Those who really need to indulge their inner speed demon should take advantage of designated racetracks such as the Yas Marina Circuit.

Fatima Al Shamsi is an Emirati who recently returned from New York City after pursuing a master’s degree in Global Affairs at NYU