A clear road out of confusion

Reducing the high number of road fatalities will require changes to our driving culture

A sign post near Shahama on Sheikh Zayed Road where the speed limit is 140 kph. Ravindranath K / The National

The UAE driving culture has long been a matter of concern. Bad driving habits, such as speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic lanes, following too closely and ignoring warning signs are rampant on our roads. Failure to obey traffic and safety laws and basic driver inattention to changing road conditions lead to many accidents and road fatalities each year. Distracted driving has become a growing issue, as some people not only send text messages from their mobile phones but also check their social media timelines and surf the internet while driving.

While these issues exist in other parts of the world, the fact is that the UAE has an unacceptably high road toll with up to four times the number of fatalities per capita of some comparable countries. Our diverse population plays a part in this. Motorists come from different backgrounds and driving cultures and feel confused about local rules and behaviour.

One difference is the way in which the left-hand lane, colloquially referred to as the “fast” lane, is in use all the time, not only for overtaking. Drivers don’t move to the next available lane, leading to dangerous tailgating by impatient drivers behind them. Adding to all the confusion is the buffer that allows drivers to exceed the posted limit by up to 20 kph. One problem with the buffer – which is under review by the Federal Traffic Council – is that its existence is unknown to many drivers, including newcomers and tourists. Drivers who believe they are travelling at the maximum allowable speed simply don’t understand why other drivers are trying to overtake.

Addressing the issue of the buffer, so it is clear to all drivers what the actual speed limit is, is only a beginning. Our signage system has to be cleaned up, including the removal of old maximum-speed signs and road markings that may have been put in place for long-completed roadworks. We also need serious enforcement with penalties that hurt drivers’ wallets. Above all, we need to improve the driving culture through education campaigns and better training. We must each do our part by knowing the rules and abiding by them.