Drink-driving the top cause of road deaths in Dubai

Drink-driving was the leading cause of road death in 2022, passing distracted driving, sudden lane changes, tailgating and lack of attention.

According to data from Dubai Police, 533 accidents on the emirate’s roads were caused by drink-driving in 2022, from a total of 3,281 throughout the year.

The incidents involved 916 vehicles, resulting in 22 deaths and 129 injuries, eight of which were severe.

Substances that affect the mind, including alcohol, make a person lose their ability not only to drive, but to do anything else

Capt Saud Al Shaiba,
Sharjah Police

Ministry of Interior figures shared by Thomas Edelmann, managing director of Road Safety UAE, shows drink-driving caused a total 30 deaths across the country in the same period.

Distracted driving, sudden deviation, tailgating, drink-driving and lack of attention account for 65 per cent of UAE road deaths.

“It’s essential to highlight the severe consequences drink-driving brings, not only in terms of the devastating accidents it causes but also the blatant disregard for the lives of all road users,” Mr Edelmann said.

“Alcohol impairs a driver's judgment and reflexes, leading to an increased risk of severe, often fatal, accidents.”

More to be done

Mr Edelmann said the statistics highlighted a disturbing indifference towards public safety, with motorists putting innocent lives in jeopardy, and called for a more comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem.

“Initiatives must include enhancing public awareness about the dangers of drink-driving through educational programmes that begin in schools, promoting a deep-rooted understanding of the risks involved,” he said.

Stricter enforcement of drink-driving laws, along with harsher penalties for those who flout them, would serve as a strong deterrent, he said.

Community-based efforts, including partnerships with local businesses to promote responsible alcohol consumption and safe transport options, are also crucial.

“Collectively, through education, strict enforcement and community engagement, we can mitigate the threat of drink-driving,” he added.

Getting behind the wheel while under the influence limits the ability to drive safely and puts lives at risk. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Capt Saud Al Shaiba, director of traffic awareness at Sharjah Police, also emphasised the dangers of drink-driving despite the offence being a rarity in Sharjah.

“Substances that affect the mind, including alcohol, make a person lose their ability not only to drive, but to do anything else,” he said.

“This is because driving requires concentration and the ability to assess road conditions and make a decision based on that.”

Highlighting the critical deficits caused by alcohol consumption, Capt Al Shaiba said: "Although the person driving under the influence of alcohol is usually able to drive the vehicle, he is certainly unable to control it.”

In a situation on the road that may require braking, he said: “A sober driver can modulate the brake pressure due to full consciousness, while an intoxicated driver lacks this precise control, potentially leading to collisions, pedestrian incidents or multicar accidents.”

Road tragedy

In a recent incident in Discovery Gardens, Dubai, a man died after being struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver on January 4.

The Indian motorist, 41, was sentenced to four months in prison, with a Dh10,000 ($2,720) fine and a six-month suspension of his driving licence.

The court also ordered the driver to pay Dh200,000 in compensation to the victim's family.

Investigations revealed the driver tested positive for alcohol consumption at the accident site and had disregarded traffic signals.

The man admitted charges of driving under the influence and causing wrongful death.

He claimed he was forced to swerve to avoid two children who suddenly appeared on the road, resulting in the vehicle veering off and hitting the victim on the roadside.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?

If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.

Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.

Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.

Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).

Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.

Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.

By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.

As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.

Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.

He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”

This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”

Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.