Drag racing drivers in Abu Dhabi neighbourhood keep residents awake

The lack of speed humps and zebra crossings in front of Guardian Towers are said to be encouraging speeding. Delores Johnson / The National

ABU DHABI // Residents of the city’s Danat area are increasingly frustrated by the loud and reckless driving of young men in the neighbourhood at night.

They said it was disturbing their sleep and was a threat to public safety.

Petrolheads have turned the street in front of Guardian Towers, a residential and commercial development near the junction of Muroor Road and Al Dhafeer Street, into a drag race strip, according to residents.

The racing began about two years ago, when the cafes opened. “Every night, almost without exception, at Starbucks and Shakespeare and Co, the men leave, starting at midnight and linger until 1am,” said a resident of Guardian Towers since 2011.

“The racing, excessive speed and crazy driving happen directly in front of the Starbucks cafe in both directions to the end of the street. It’s most common and most frequent when the cafes close for the night, between 11pm and 2am.”

The lack of speed humps or zebra crossings on the street encourages speeding.

“Our whole residential street, from when you turn off 31st Street all the way until the school, is a flat and open street that’s really wide,” said the resident.

“It wasn’t until they started construction work that the street narrowed. It’s four open lanes without barriers, so that’s why people love to do it [speed] there.”

Khalid Khamis, 30, an Emirati who frequents the cafes, said the drag racers were mostly Emiratis between 18 and 25 years old. Once he saw drivers of a Ford Mustang and a Mercedes racing in front of the cafe.

“They’re basically here to show off their cars, to tell guys ‘I have a powerful car’,” said Mr Khamis. “There are a lot of families living in the Guardian Towers and I’ve heard that they’re complaining about the noise. What can we do? They [the racers] are just kids.”

A cafe manager said the young men usually began racing at 11pm or midnight, when the street is clear. “We can’t tell them to stop,” he said. “We only request the drivers not to honk.”

Residents are urging tough action against the nuisance.

“It’s nearly impossible to stay asleep while sports cars hit triple-digit speeds and make a game out of revving their engines to the limit,” a resident said. “It’s only a matter of time before someone has a serious accident because they’re speeding in a residential neighbourhood.”

But a Mawaqif inspector assigned to the area from 4pm to midnight said: “We can’t do anything. I think they like people looking at them”.

Mawaqif’s job is restricted to ensuring that cars are not double-parked or parked in the middle of the road.

“We ask the drivers to park their cars in the available spots in front of the cafe so that they do not obstruct traffic,” said a Mawaqif officer.

Last year, residents of Guardian Towers had complained about haphazard parking and constant sounding of horns in the neighbourhood. The problem has abated somewhat since Mawaqif was installed.

The two parking wardens said they often saw young drivers revving their engines and racing their luxury sports cars – such as Lamborghinis, Audis, Porsches and Rolls-Royces – on the road in the residential area.

“These drivers know what they’re doing because occasionally Mawaqif sends police patrols to the area,” a resident said.

Residents can report reckless drivers through the CityGuard mobile application.

“They can take photos or videos and send them through the app,” said Lt Col Jamal Al Ameri, head of public relations at Abu Dhabi traffic police.

In May last year, Brig Hussain Al Harthi, director of Abu Dhabi Police’s traffic and patrols directorate, said police would maintain complainants’ confidentiality and take appropriate action after checking the validity of the complaints.

Residents can also report offences such as show-off stunts, overtaking on the hard shoulder and jumping red lights. They should provide the vehicle’s plate number, specify the type of vehicle, and where and when the offence took place.