Students tries the Nissan GT Academy Simulator as part of RTA's initiative for road safety at RTA's Gulf Traffic Week event at the American University of Dubai on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Photo by Dhes Handumon
Dubai - Dubai Police mull redefining penalties for using phones while driving.
Published: Wed 16 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM
Last updated: Thu 17 Mar 2016, 5:05 PM
Motorists belonging to an age group of 18-30 are prone to road accidents in the UAE, according to Dubai Traffic Police Department.
"Young drivers are among the most vulnerable to meeting with accidents.Simply because they are inexperienced and also because they tend to use their mobile phones while driving," said Deema Hussein, Traffic Awareness Senior Manager, Traffic Department of Traffic and Roads Agency (TRA).
Deema spoke to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a Gulf Traffic Week event organised by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) at the American University in Dubai.
Deema stated that young people are a safety focus group for the government.
Hussein said that the RTA has partnered with the Dubai Police, the Dubai Civil Defence Department, Dubai Customs, Nissan Automobiles, Emirates Driving Institute, and other agencies to raise awareness among college going students.
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According to a recent UAE Road Safety Monitor - 2nd Cycle (February 2016); commissioned by Qatar Insured and RoadSafetyUAE, an alarming 28 per cent of people in the age group of 30-34 said that they have been involved in an accident in the last six months.
Also, 31 per cent of the surveyed group also said that they have received speeding or traffic fines in the last six months.
However, only 12 per cent of those surveyed, and belonging to the age group 18-24, said that they have been involved in road accidents in the last six months and 7 per cent have been fined for traffic violations.
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Dubai Police Traffic Department official Omar Muslim Osman told Khaleej Times: "Main reasons for accidents are not keeping a safe distance, sudden swerving, using mobile phones, and over speeding.
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"We've been using radars to study the behaviour of drivers on the roads and once a study has been issued, we are looking to redefine penalties for using mobiles while driving."
He said that this year the Dubai Police are focusing more on the young people studying in universities, both public and private organisations.
"We hope to educate them by giving lectures and organising open events like these," said Osman.
Civil Defence officials have also advised youngsters to check their vehicle oil and tyres every fortnight to avoid engine mishaps.
"Very often we get calls about fires caused by engines exploding in the middle of the road. Exposure of oil and petrol or pressurised containers to high temperature inside the car is very risky," said Abdullah Hamza, a firefighter with Dubai Civil Defence.
He said: "People have to give their vehicles for service every 5,000 to 10,000km and check air pressure also routinely. This will avoid mishaps."
Dubai Customs educated students on the importance of buying legitimate spare parts for their car instead of the fake ones.
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Also, Emirates Driving Institute (EDI) gave students valuable information on safe driving.
A spokesperson for Nissan Automobiles, who organised a simulation drive, said: "We give youngsters the opportunity to drive these race car simulators so that they get a feel of what it is to drive a race car. This exercise stops children from speeding in real life."
American University of Dubai students who took part in the events said that they found this information highly useful and said that have used their phones while driving or seen their friends do the same.
Dunia Marey, an 18-year-old media student, said: "I've experienced an instance where some of my friends have used their mobiles and driven their cars.It's extremely dangerous and I wish students would not do it."
Architecture student Amr Wael, 19, said: "I've been driving for a year and I'm guilty of using my phone while driving. Raising the penalty for the fines is a good way to stop students from doing it."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
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