ABU DHABI // You are in mid-city traffic, secure in the knowledge that despite the signs telling you to drive at 60kph, you are at no risk of a fine while sticking under 80kph.
So how much incentive – apart from the all-too-often ignored issue of your safety and that of other road users – is there for you to slow down?
Very little, say road-safety experts, who are pushing to eventually whittle down the 20kph buffer between the speed limit and radar detection to nil.
“It appears that we are encouraging drivers to speed, which is one of the challenges we are facing here in the UAE,” said Dr Akmal Abdelfatah, a traffic expert in Sharjah.
Experts believe that reducing the buffer by 10kph, coupled with more training for drivers in hazard perception, would help to reduce the risk of traffic collisions.
“We can gradually reduce the margin from 20kph to 10kph, then to 5kph, and eventually match the enforced speed limit with the posted speed limit,” Dr Abdelfatah said.
Last year's national statistics showed there were 651 deaths and 7,743 injuries from road-related crashes. Speeding resulted in 87 deaths and 559 injuries.
“When a driver sees a 120kph sign on the road, he or she already perceives it as 140kph and will continue driving at that speed,” said Dr Abdelfatah.
He said motorists should learn how to estimate their speed by timing how long it takes to travel between two points on the road, and how to travel in difficult weather conditions.
Data collected on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed motorway (E12) showed 75 per cent of drivers were exceeding the 100kph limit shown on roadside signs.
Dr Abdelfatah proposed eliminating the buffer zone so drivers could accurately perceive speed and distance when driving.
Glenn Havinoviski, a transport expert in Abu Dhabi, said a buffer for the speed limit was sensible because of speedometer errors in some vehicles.
But Mr Havinoviski said: “20kph is really the high end for such a buffer, while a 10kph buffer may have a more serious effect on reducing excessive speeds.”
Dr Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor of industrial engineering at the University of Sharjah, agreed that the buffer sent the wrong message.
“The problem is that the current margin of 20kph is too big compared to international standards and gives the driver a wrong impression,” Dr Bendak said.
“Dropping it to 10kph across all the emirates would be beneficial and would enhance conformity with the traffic laws, based on research studies.”
It is the driver’s responsibility to always observe, identify and comply with the posted speed limit, said Khalid Al Mansoori, chief executive at Emirates Driving Company, the traffic school.
“However, the task of driving is complex and driver training research indicates that a human’s ability to concentrate on driving deteriorates after 20 minutes,” Mr Al Mansoori said.
“The challenge for law enforcement is to ensure that compliance with speed limits occurs in a logical way.”
He said speed limits ensured vehicles were travelling at similar speeds, and that drivers could anticipate and predict the movement of other vehicles.
“If other vehicles are travelling significantly faster, then the safety margin is reduced because drivers have less time to think and react,” Mr Al Mansoori said.
Dr Abdelfatah also suggested that local governments set a 50kph limit for urban or residential areas.
“It is 60 to 80kph in the UAE but people drive at 80 to 100kph, which is very dangerous,” he said.
Dino Kalivas, director of training at the driving school, said: “The correct wearing of seat belts for all drivers and passengers, respecting the posted speed limit and allowing a safe following distance should be seen as three priority areas of driver responsibility and law enforcement.”
He also recommended a law requiring mandatory child car restraints, and adopting a unified system for all police departments across the UAE to manage traffic flow, share data and co-ordinate to improve response times from call centres, service patrol and emergency vehicles.
rruiz@thenational.ae
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- 600-seat auditorium
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QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
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T20 SQUADS
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.
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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.
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World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
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Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
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Plastic tipping points
What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
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