The problem is not a new one. Our roads are dangerous because of erratic and reckless driving. While authorities have tried to curb the problem of road safety through community awareness programmes, better driver education and stricter enforcement, the problem appears to be getting worse.
Early Friday morning, 20-year-old twin Emirati brothers and a teenager were killed after their car sped out of control in the eastern part of Sharjah. Their car hit a lamp post, killing everyone in the vehicle. These types of traffic accidents have hospital staff reporting an unprecedented number of patients with brain injuries that often result in a lifetime of disability.
Make no mistake, road safety is an not an issue beyond our control. There are plenty of countries in the world with similarly excellent road infrastructure and automobile enthusiasm that have far fewer road fatalities per capita. The solution to this issue, based on other examples, lies in ensuring that all motorists are suitably qualified to drive and informed about the rules – and in taking repeat offenders off the roads.
A driver’s licence must be considered a privilege that can be revoked if you break traffic laws. Since speeding is one of the leading contributors to accidents, those who are regularly caught speeding must lose their legal ability to drive. Other dangerous behaviours, such as tailgating or texting while driving, should also be punished. Taking away one’s car or imposing high fines is simply not a forceful enough deterrent for serial offenders. Once people realise that they can lose their right to drive, then the enforcement of traffic laws becomes easier.
Our road saftey laws are among the best in the world . This is clear by the recent provision that makes wearing a seat belt or using a safety seat compulsory in all parts of a vehicle. We have the laws in place and the infrastructure to ensure that are roads are safe for drivers and pedestrians. However, we will not be able to ensure safety until all drivers understand that violation of the rules will result in the revocation of their privilege to drive.
