DUBAI // Car modifications could lead to deadly crashes – and no one knows this better than Khalid bin Suwaidan, 44, who is recovering from serious spine, neck and leg injuries at Rashid Hospital.
The Emirati’s car rolled over several times on Sheikh Zayed Road in March after the tyres he fitted on his Land Cruiser burst.
“We modified the car wheels and put some spray gel to make the tyres shine. But the gel made the tyres skid and, before we knew it, we were in the hospital,” said Mr bin Suwaidan, whose friend was drink-driving.
“I urge people not to do any modifications or change their tyres to make their car feel taller or smaller. The manufacturer has chosen a particular size or type because it knows best. It’s really dangerous to do any changes. And please don’t drink and drive.”
Mr bin Suwaidan, who now uses a wheelchair, is part of Dubai Police’s initiative to raise awareness among Emiratis and expatriates on the need to buckle up, stick to speed limits, avoid drink driving and be safe on the roads.
Traffic police and Rashid Hospital doctors took journalists to meet 10 crash victims – five Emiratis and five expatriates – some of whom were injured while crossing roads at undesignated spots.
“We ask families to take care of their children and loved ones,” said Col Saif Al Mazrouei, director general of the police traffic department.
“Wear seat belts and be safe. We urge people to buckle children under 12 years. We are considering making rear seat belts and child car seats compulsory soon.”
Some crash victims, such as Ali Ahmed Al Kanda, 29, have been in hospital for years.
“I fell asleep while driving in Al Aweer,” said Mr Al Kanda, who suffered severe spinal cord and neck injuries when he lost control of his Nissan Pathfinder in 2006.
“I wasn’t wearing a seat belt and that made matters worse. I fell in a coma for three months and woke up in a London hospital. I want to tell people to drive carefully.”
He has been receiving treatment ever since the accident and he now hopes to go to Germany for further treatment.
But not everyone seemed convinced that seat belts would keep them safe.
“I was driving at 120kph while taking an exit on Mohammed bin Zayed Road and couldn’t control the car,” said Emirati Ahmed Al Nuaimi, 19, a law student at Zayed College, of the acident he was involved in last weekend.
“The car turned around. If I had been slower this wouldn’t have happened. I wasn’t wearing my seat belt. Once I recover and go back, I still don’t think I will wear my seat belt because I don’t think it can save you.”
Mr Al Nuaimi said doctors told him it would take at least three months to recover.
Rashid Hospital officials said they dealt with two to five trauma cases, mainly as a result of car crashes, each day.
“We are the only trauma centre in the UAE,” said Dr Faisal Badri, consultant and head of general surgery at the hospital.
“We see victims because of not wearing belts, riding motorbikes rashly and lack of education. Many of these accidents can be avoided. Ninety per cent of Dubai’s population do not know what kind of cases we see in Rashid Hospital.”
Dr Badri urged police to broadcast the result of crashes on television so that the public gets to see hard-hitting safety messages.
“Every time a serious accident happens, they should stop television programmes and broadcast these accidents instead. People should know what is happening,” the doctor said.
pkannan@thenational.ae
