According to survey results released this week, 77 per cent of people believe that the incidence of reckless driving has increased in the UAE over the past five years. The poll, conducted by YouGov for Zurich Insurance Group, deals in perceptions – and it certainly seems that everybody you meet has some sort of horror story about being cut-up, tailgated or abused by another motorist. But the evidence of bad driving is not just anecdotal: official figures show that the number of serious accidents on our roads remains unacceptably high, and well above those in the likes of the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia.
The incidence of thoughtless driving and road rage seems to be a curious exception to the norm in a society that generally values and practises a high level of courtesy and respect for others. We don’t see people pushing each other out of the way as they negotiate through the crowds at the mall, or shouting abuse and making rude hand gestures to each other as they walk along the street. And you certainly would not expect to witness disrespectful behaviour towards visitors in a family home.
However, there are a few other places where bad behaviour seems to be accepted or, at least, expected. A recent opinion article in The National by Fatima Al Shamsi ignited discussion about the behaviour of cinema patrons. Hundreds of Facebook users endorsed her view that the loud talking, use of mobile phones and other antisocial activities that occur in cinemas in the UAE would not be tolerated in many other places. And, although it is not a problem restricted to this country, uninhibited uncivil behaviour is on the rise online. Trolling on social media – including threats to kill or injure others – has become an increasing cause for concern for communities worldwide.
The common factor in these examples is the anonymity of the person committing the offending act. The presumption is that nobody knows who you are when you’re on the internet, sitting in a darkened cinema or behind the wheel of a speeding car. In the minds of too many people, this has become a licence to behave badly – to say and do things you would not dream of saying or doing in the mall or the majlis.
The challenge for the authorities trying to encourage better behaviour on the roads, online or in the cinema is to spread the message that common courtesy doesn’t have boundaries. It is also, generally, rewarding. It may seem hackneyed, but the golden rule of treating others the way you would like to be treated should never be allowed to go out of fashion.
