Road safety campaign aimed at lane discipline



ABU DHABI // It may seem like common sense to most of us, but motorists are again being urged stick to their lane when driving through traffic junctions to reduce delays and collisions.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Interior tweeted a 36-second video clip with the hashtag #come_on to illustrate how to safely drive through a junction without impeding the flow of traffic. It also serves as a warning against the dangers of stopping and being on the wrong lane when intending to turn left.

A vehicle is seen in the clip stopping on a through-traffic lane and signalling with the intention of turning left while two cars were behind it waiting to pass on a green light.

Experts welcomed the use of social media to spread road-safety messages to the public.

Dr Daniel Albuquerque, assistant professor of Transportation Engineering at the UAE University, said the use of social media should be explored by the UAE authorities.

“Most of the causes of severe traffic crashes in the UAE are due to imprudent driving behaviour, and this is where a lot of the road safety problems lie,” he said.

“The UAE enjoys modern road infrastructure and a vehicle fleet which is continually getting safer over time. These are not where a lot of the road safety problems are. More than habit-changing, cultural-changing campaigns is what will do the trick towards safer driving.”

The lack of lane discipline is among the top 10 killers on UAE’s roads, according to the ministry.

“It is vital that this issue gets addressed and the recent MoI video is a great example,” said Road Safety UAE founder Thomas Edelmann.

“As 45 per cent of accidents are caused by young drivers, it is important to use social media to reach out to those young audiences.”

Drivers should always use the proper lanes and follow the arrows marked on the road. Do not make a left turn from the lane dedicated for through movement Abu Dhabi’s road user code states.

“Very often we witness motorists who even want to jump lanes if there is a queue to take a right or a left turn at an intersection,” Mr Edelmann said. “Or we see motorists who are confused or distracted and figure out very late that they want to turn at an intersection when they are nearing a turning point but are still in the wrong lane.”

Motorists should be reminded that the transport system is a collective, public system and not their own, said Dr Daniel Albuquerque, who is also the co-ordinator of the roadway, transportation, and traffic safety research centre at the UAE University.

“This system runs based on a set of regulations by which drivers must abide,” he said. “And if they do not, they can potentially suffer consequences such as financial losses and injuries.”

Accidents are often caused by drivers who fail to make turns properly at traffic junctions.

“If they are stopping in the through-traffic lane with the purpose of cutting time at the expense of other peoples’ time, that is not a good citizen’s attitude,” Dr Albuquerque said.

“And it would be great if people who break the rules stopped to ponder on just that.”

rruiz@thenational.ae

RESULTS
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Place of birth: Kalba

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

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Friday (UAE kick-off times)

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Saturday 

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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
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