Ras Al Khaimah, February 13: The increasing number of cases of reckless driving and speeding among young drivers in some areas of the emirate has raised safety concerns among residents.
Scores of residents in the Al Rams, Sha’abiyat Rashid, Julfar and Sharishat areas have complained that speeding and reckless driving by youth have caused several accidents.
Ahmed Ali Hassan, a 45-year-old Emirati resident of Al Rams, said many youngsters drive recklessly at high speed without considering the safety of others. “These stubborn drivers who in most cases do not follow the traffic rules and regulations are the ones causing accidents and have led to loss of many lives and injuries to many. Sometimes, powerful vehicles driven at high speed make sounds which distract and scare other motorists,” said Hassan.
Yusuf Hamdan Al Shihi, a resident of Julfar, said many accidents on their roads involve youngsters. “Recently, a child in my neighbourhood was hit by a vehicle being driven by a youngster. The child narrowly escaped death. But he sustained multiple fractures on his legs and severe injuries on the pelvis, which may cause permanent disabilities,” said Al Shihi.
He noted that unlike in other areas, their roads are not so busy but such drivers cause most of the troubles on the roads. “The Traffic Police should intensify their patrols on the roads in most areas to monitor the motorists and to curb the errant drivers so as to reduce the number of accidents,” he added.
Nasser Al Mansouri, another resident, said some youths drive fancy cars with exhaust pipes that are different from the usual ones, on Julfar Road, which make loud and awkward sounds inconveniencing residents and sometimes scaring children. Some youths are so impatient that they do not give way to pedestrians and children crossing the roads, which puts people’s lives at risk, said Al Mansouri.
Col Hassan Al Buraiki, Deputy Director of the Traffic and Licensing Department, said the traffic police are patrolling roads round-the-clock. Stiff penalties will be imposed on all drivers who do not follow the traffic rules.
Early last week, the department launched a comprehensive drive to raise awareness about traffic rules among truck drivers and the general public, following the increasing number of traffic violations especially among drivers of trucks in the emirate.
Col. Nasser Salem Al Muraddad, Chief of the department, accidents caused by heavy vehicles have been on the rise, which warranted urgent measures to curb them. The drive, which will go on throughout the year, would involve educating and reminding drivers of trucks, school buses and others about the need to comply with traffic rules. “Speeding, aggressive and underage driving, and the non-use of seat belts are among the major issues which will be addressed,” said Al Muraddad.
–Agencies