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Poster campaign will drive home safe driving message

DUBAI — Big posters urging motorists to drive safely will soon adorn Dubai roads. The move comes as part of a 12-week campaign titled “Be Smart. Drive Safe”, to be lunched by the Dubai Autodrome, in association with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police.

Slated to begin on July 15, the special poster campaign will be divided into two phases, each to last for six weeks.

Dubai, it may be noted, registered over 200 deaths in road mishaps in 2005 as well as in 2006.

Saeed Khalfan, chairman of Dubai Autodrome said: “The first six weeks of the campaign will include a concerted advertising and poster campaign which will focus on tips for motorists. The second phase will target the students on university campuses and road shows will be organised for them. The youngsters will be urged to stop being reckless on the roads.”

The campaign will stress on the importance of alertness while driving. “Drivers should have full control over their vehicles. Fatigue, lack of sleep and driving under the influence of liquor negatively can be very dangerous,” said an RTA official.

The official added: “Conditions in the UAE such as the heat, long working hours and constant traffic snarls are the some of the important reasons for the mishaps. Drivers should be particularly alert during the early morning hours (12am to 6am) and early afternoon (2pm to 4pm). It’s during this time that drivers are most likely to fall asleep. When on a long drive, drivers should regularly break their journey and take rest. They must take a 15 minute break after every two hours of drive,” the official noted.

The official also cautioned the drivers against tailgating and advised them to keep safe distance from other vehicles while driving. “Tailgating is a common practice on the roads of Dubai. This is very dangerous,” the official pointed out.

• UAE