Another horrific crash in Dubai involving a truck and a minibus on a highway has once again brought to the fore the flagrant disregard for careful driving and following best practices in traffic safety, especially by a section of recalcitrant drivers of commercial vehicles.
The accident on Tuesday morning claimed seven lives. The sequence of events leading up to the fatal moments feeds into a familiar trend: The truck had parked on the third lane of Emirates Road, after a minor accident with a pick-up truck, and the minibus transporting workers rammed into it. While the police across the UAE has engaged the community in several campaigns to reduce the number of road fatalities, it is critical for all motorists to remember their obligation — not only towards their own safety, but also towards their co-passengers and others on the road.
This assumes more significance particularly with regard to the minibus and trucks segment. First, proper care needs to be taken to determine the driving skills and sense of responsibility of drivers. A minibus driver who is tailgating and weaving in and out of lanes or a truck driver who blissfully parks on an undesignated area of a highway, are both huge risks to public safety. Second, brake failures have often been cited as the reason for fatal accidents. Companies must be made responsible for ensuring proper maintenance of their vehicle fleet. Third, all commercial drivers must be subjected to regular medical checks and allowed adequate rest to avoid fatigue while driving.
While stricter policing and vigilance are helping reduce traffic hazards, ultimately, it is incumbent upon all motorists to be aware of the immense responsibility they carry when they step on the accelerator.
