DUBAI // Eighty students took part in a driving skills challenge yesterday in a bid to promote safe motoring habits among young people.
The event at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Dubai Men's Campus was part of a campaign launched recently by FedEx Express. It was supported by Dubai Police and the Emirates Motor Sports Federation.
Students at five Dubai-based universities attended interactive lectures and took part in a simulator experience last week.
Yesterday, the campaign culminated with a driving skills challenge competition among HCT Dubai Women's Campus, the American University in Dubai, Manipal University, HCT Dubai Men's Campus and Bits Pilani. Each university nominated 16 members.
The timed challenge consisted of a slalom, which required participants to weave through some obstacles, a roundabout, and a lot of winding course. They experienced manoeuvres to improve their car-handling abilities, work towards improving their driving techniques and understand the concept of using skill over speed.
If a driver touched or knocked down two cones, two seconds were added to the time. If three cones were hit the driver was disqualified.
"It was exciting," said Roshanara Sait, director of Ciel Marketing and Events, which organised the event. "I've seen some skilled drivers. Each one wanted to have a better time than the others."
Six winners - three men and three women - were appointed as "road safety ambassadors" and received trophies.
The male winners were Al Malek Ossama Issam El Halabi, of American University of Dubai, Rameez Abdul Salam, of Bits Pilani, and Zubair Ansan of Manipal University. The female winners, Sara Y, Alya S and Rehab S, were all from HCT Dubai Women's College.
