The Stubborn Non-Use of Indicators on UAE Roads, a Key Ingredient to the #1 Cause of Road Fatalities

• About half of all lane changes and turns happen without indicating

• Fines are AED 200/3points (Abu Dhabi) AED 400 (Dubai)

• Non-use transcends all types or roads, private vehicles, commercial vehicles like taxis and limos

• Main ingredient to #1 cause of death, ie. sudden changing of lane

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Sunday 29 September 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

A nuisance observed daily on UAE roads is the stubborn non-use of indicators. Regardless if motorists change lanes, merge onto highways, exit highways, turn at T-junctions or 4-way junctions or exit roundabouts, very often this happens without the use of indicators. Even fines of AED 200 in Abu Dhabi (3 black points) or AED 400 in Dubai don’t act as a deterrent.

In a non-representative ‘behind the wheel’ study conducted by RoadSafetyUAE, based on more than 5,000 observed maneuvers on UAE roads between February and June 2019, in 47% of instances the indicators were not used. The non-use transcends all types or roads, as well as private and commercial vehicles like taxis and limos. Especially when passengers get transported, it is very difficult to understand why commercial drivers frequently break the law and endanger their passengers by not conducting such an easy act of road safety! Fleet operators are encouraged to train their drivers and engage with them in order to make them role models for proper conduct. This will then rub-off to drivers of private vehicles and hence will improve the use of indicators overall.

“As always in road safety, it is up to us – the drivers – to lead by example and to display a caring attitude towards ourselves and everyone around us. It’s the law to use the indicator so let’s just do it!”, states Thomas Edelmann, Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE. “It was interesting to observe in our ‘behind the wheel’ study, that the use of indicators seems to be ‘infectious’!  Meaning, that if one vehicle actually does use the indicators, suddenly you see many other vehicles around also using their indicators, which is very encouraging and it substantiates the statement that we all have to lead by example!”, Edelmann adds.

The lack of indicator use is not only a nuisance and a sign of poor road habits and impolite behavior, but it can also be dangerous when motorists don’t indicate to other where they want to move. The non-use of indicators is a major ingredient to sudden lane change / lane swerving which once again was the leading cause of death in the UAE in 2018, killing 59 people and causing major injuries to 495, according to official data published earlier.  

Tips & tricks for proper indicator use:

Bear in mind, that non-use of indicators is a main ingredient to the #1 KILLER on our roads!

Using your indicator is a basic rule of road safety (non-use carries fines and black points!)

Using your indicator shows good manners – it’s basic etiquette to signal where you intend to go!

Protect YOURSELF, your PASSEGERS and OTHERS!

Make it a HABIT to ALWAYS use your indicator

Start indicating a few seconds BEFORE you actually move, to make others aware

Check in front & around you – check mirrors – indicate before your move – look over your left shoulder – then maneuver!

When you see somebody else indicating, be polite and caring and allow them to move

Indicate ALWAYS when you want to:

Change lanes

Take a turn or exit/enter a highway

Exit a roundabout

Pull out of a parking slot

Note to the editor: the quoted research of 5,121 maneuvers can be found here: http://www.roadsafetyuae.com/assets/uploads/2019/09/Indicator-Research-Use-and-Non-Use.xlsx

About RoadSafetyUAE:

RoadSafetyUAE’s vision is to contribute to reducing the number of road traffic fatalities, injuries and accidents in the UAE. RoadSafetyUAE’s mission is to raise the awareness for proper conduct on our roads, in an engaging manner and on a broadly communicated and permanent basis. RoadSafetyUAE’s award-winning platform engages with the stakeholders traffic participants, governmental entities, the media, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) minded partners. ‘Tips & Tricks’ are the content backbone, provided for more than 60 topics of road safety, all specifically relevant to the UAE. More information can be found on http://www.roadsafetyuae.com/

Contacts

RoadSafetyUAE

Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director, +971505519216

Thomas@RoadSafetyUAE.com

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