Despite laws requiring safety gear for motorcyclists, some riders still take to the road without wearing helmets or protective clothing. This was clearly demonstrated in a picture released by the Ministry of Interior last week. As The National reported, it showed two men riding on a motorbike without wearing helmets. Their machine also appeared to have neither rear plate number nor indicator lights, and both men were wearing sandals rather than protective boots.
With a per capita road-fatality rate more than three times that of the United Kingdom, the UAE lags in the implementation and enforcement of life-saving traffic rules. In the case of motorbikes, the law says that riders who fail to wear a helmet should be fined Dh200 and given four black points on their licence. Those who repeatedly break the rules also face having their vehicle impounded for a week. However, according to Salaheddine Bendak, associate professor of industrial engineering at the University of Sharjah, enforcement is simply not strict enough to deter offenders.
Not only should the current laws be enforced, but we suggest further action be taken to ensure motorcyclists and other road users are safe. Education programmes should ensure that all motorcyclists are aware of the specific safety procedures that apply to their vehicles. Specifically they must understand the need to wear helmets that meet international safety standards, along with protective clothing including sturdy shoes, gloves and elbow- and knee-pads. Riders who repeatedly flout the laws should be required to undergo corrective training and face the very real prospect of licence suspension. Strict rules should also apply to pillion passengers, including a minimum age requirement, and to people who ride motorcycles and similar vehicles off-road.
Riders must appreciate that, although their vehicles are more manoeuvrable in traffic than cars, the rules of the road still apply to them. Speeding, weaving in and out of lanes without indicating, tailgating, and travelling in the “blind spots” of lorries and buses are all potentially deadly practices.
As we have stressed before on these pages, we need to develop a culture of safety on our roads and in our homes. Too many lives are lost due to the failure to implement simple safety measures or observe basic rules. While the authorities can and should enforce the law, sadly, they cannot mandate common sense.