Bus drivers ask for courtesy on the roads, as UAE remembers victims of deadliest crash

The accident on the Old Truck Road in Al Ain claimed the lives of 21 men in 2013. Courtesy Al Ain Police

ABU DHABI // Two years on from the UAE's deadliest road crash, bus drivers have said conditions on the country's roads have not changed, leading to fears that another crash of similar severity could be just around the corner.

Twenty-one men died when a bus carrying 45 labourers from their accommodation to their workplace collided with a lorry in Al Ain on February 4, 2013.

Pakistani bus driver Sabreen Khan said his own poor conduct on the roads had served as a wake-up call.

“In the past four years, I’ve had five road accidents due to speeding and received injuries. But now I have learnt my lesson and have started following traffic rules,” he said.

He said nothing had changed since the Al Ain crash. “There have been no more safety measures or additional briefings on road safety.”

Despite the severity of the 2013 crash, he said he still frequently dealt with inconsiderate driving by other motorists, road rage and dangerous overtaking.

Mr Khan said light-vehicle drivers should also respect the older, vulnerable buses, which he said were poorly manufactured and would “shatter like cards” in even a minor accident.

“When I put on my left indicator to turn, small cars ignore that and accelerate further to block while we push to be in the left lane. Then accidents happen,” Mr Khan said.

The driver, who has 13 years of experience behind the wheel, also criticised the quality of his vehicle. “These buses are very poorly manufactured and can’t withstand any accidents.”

There was also an onus on bus and heavy-vehicle drivers to respect the rules of the road, some drivers said.

“Speeding in buses is like killing yourself intentionally,” said Pakistani bus driver Rizwan Ullah, 30.

“Particularly workers’ buses that are fitted with air-pressure brakes, which we have to pump up to brake, while cars are equipped with high-quality hydraulic and anti-lock braking systems, which give them efficient control.”

He said if you were travelling at more than 100kph, the air-pressure brakes did not work effectively and could lead to accidents.

While parked, Mr Ullah demonstrated this by releasing the pressure in his brakes, and then trying to brake again – with no effect.

“Foggy and misty mornings make roads slippery, causing skidding when brakes are applied. So we drive slow,” said Mr Ullah, who has been driving buses for nine years.

Bus drivers have to follow a speed limit of 80kph whereas light vehicles can travel up to 120kph on most motorways. “I drive at 30 to 40kph in the city and outside, at 80kph,” Mr Ullah said.

Roshanara Sait, a road-safety expert in Dubai, said: “Speeding and overconfidence cause accidents. Motorists should realise that other lives are also in their hands.

“In bad weather, it’s harder to control the vehicle and every driver should understand if you follow basic traffic rules you should not pose a hazard.”

Just basic courtesy and respecting road rules and other road users would help reduce the number of fatalities on the roads, Ms Sait said.