I used to love to drive, and I used to drive a lot. In Australia, where I grew up, the distances between places can be massive, and when I was young, it was exhilarating to be able to jump into a car and drive hundreds of kilometres at a time.
As an adult with a young family, I often did the daily “school run”, transporting two children to different schools through peak-hour city traffic. Even then, I mostly enjoyed the experience of driving.
But since I’ve moved to the UAE, I have almost no urge to get behind the wheel. I don’t own a car, and I haven’t driven since this time last year – and that was when I was back in Brisbane.
It’s not that I’m over the idea of driving, it’s because – frankly – I find the idea of doing it in Abu Dhabi or Dubai a little daunting.
In Australia, there are “hoons” – mostly young men who speed and drive carelessly on motorways, or burn rubber in otherwise quiet suburban streets. But they are very much in the minority and are frowned upon by the community at large. A few years ago, there was a successful education campaign that poked fun at them, suggesting that to drive in this manner was less than manly.
My observation here over the past three-and-a-half years has been that it’s considered normal – or at least not unusual – to exceed the speed limit, even in urban areas; fail to indicate while changing lanes; fail to give way to pedestrians, even on crossings; talk on a mobile phone while driving; or to tailgate.
In Australia, no taxi driver would dream of doing these things, for fear of losing their licence and their livelihood. Yet in Abu Dhabi, cabbies are among the worst offenders, breaking the most basic of road rules. I take taxis at least 10 times a week and I can honestly say that on more than half of the journeys I have taken, the driver has committed an offence that should result in them being fined and accruing black points.
The most common, of course, is speeding. If taxi drivers were fined every time the “you are crossing the speed limit” announcement came on – as, arguably, they should be – they’d all be vastly in debt. I’ve also found very few drivers who use their indicators, but far too many who feel compelled to always get in front of the car in the next lane, no matter what risks are involved in achieving that.
It is clear that for cabbies, and many other drivers, the law does not seem to be a deterrent.
Human behaviour studies tell us that many people will break a law if: a) they don’t agree with the law; b) they think they can get away with it; or c) they don’t fear the punishment. I suspect there’s a bit of all three going on here.
So what does it matter if drivers break the law? Well, breaking the law often results in accidents. And accidents often result in death.
World Health Organisation figures reveal that a person is about four times more likely to die in a road accident in the UAE than in the UK, and twice as likely than in Australia.
But, to many, they are just numbers. Who among those reckless drivers has really thought through the human consequences of their behaviour?
Do parents who don’t insist that their children wear restraints ever think about what might happen if they had to brake suddenly? I’m sure it didn’t even occur to the family of my school friend who died under exactly those circumstances at the age of 11. That was 40 years ago, before seat belts were even compulsory in Australia. But even if they weren’t now, no child would ever ride in a car I’m driving without being properly restrained.
I sincerely hope that drivers pause to think about their behaviour in terms of the tragedy that could befall themselves, their passengers and other road users.
Is the hurry to get somewhere – especially if, as is often the case, it’s only a matter of getting to the red traffic signal before the vehicle in the next lane – worth a human life?
In Australia, in Britain, in many other countries, road deaths have dropped dramatically because of awareness campaigns, very stiff penalties, increased enforcement and – importantly – the greater social stigma associated with bad driving behaviour.
Strong laws are in place here, and there have been some positive signs of a drop in fatalities. But we all have to do more.
Firstly, the authorities should seriously consider recent WHO recommendations about lowering the speed limit to 50 kph in residential areas, and implement other changes such as making the use of rear-seat belts compulsory.
More importantly, though, we need a change in attitude across the community. We should not accept it as normal that every second driver speeds, cuts in, tailgates, talks on their mobile phone and fails to indicate. We should, as a community, insist on higher standards.
We cannot ignore the evidence that is all around us. On behalf of those who have died or have been critically and permanently injured in needless traffic accidents, we need to work together to improve the overall standards of driving.
A footnote: since beginning to write this article, I’ve been involved in an accident. My taxi driver hesitated while turning a corner and the cab was rear-ended by another vehicle. I was shaken but otherwise OK. I was, of course, wearing a seat belt.
bdebritz@thenational.ae
On Twitter: @debritz
Napoleon
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Company%20Profile
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Company%20Profile
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THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Company%20Profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
