Terrible Road Accident Rate in the UAE.
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Sensible post, syspa.
What year does this region write? 1428 or 1429? Where was Europe, or for that matter the Americas, at that time of their count?
You are absolutely right that each society evolves sooner or later. With the recent globalisation, that is by the way warmly embraced by the developping world, it would just demonstrate a tiny little brin of intelligence if such societies would learn faster and not make the same mistakes. Back in time there was no example at hand to show which road not to take.
I am not complaining, as you insinuate, but merely wondering why on earth some societies refuse to learn from others mistakes and continue to evoque that it needs much more time to evolve. It didn't take much time to buy the Lambo and run after the blondes, did it? Furthermore it buggers my mind to see that the same societies, when settling as expats up north, have nothing better to do than try to impose their values there. Only mentioned that because you said something about exporting "mistakes"...
I don't want to enter into any value debate. I think however that the demonstrated behaviour on local roads is simply savagery and is beyond ANY cultural values. It should be exhonoured in the strongest terms from the local authorities AND society.
What year does this region write? 1428 or 1429? Where was Europe, or for that matter the Americas, at that time of their count?
You are absolutely right that each society evolves sooner or later. With the recent globalisation, that is by the way warmly embraced by the developping world, it would just demonstrate a tiny little brin of intelligence if such societies would learn faster and not make the same mistakes. Back in time there was no example at hand to show which road not to take.
I am not complaining, as you insinuate, but merely wondering why on earth some societies refuse to learn from others mistakes and continue to evoque that it needs much more time to evolve. It didn't take much time to buy the Lambo and run after the blondes, did it? Furthermore it buggers my mind to see that the same societies, when settling as expats up north, have nothing better to do than try to impose their values there. Only mentioned that because you said something about exporting "mistakes"...
I don't want to enter into any value debate. I think however that the demonstrated behaviour on local roads is simply savagery and is beyond ANY cultural values. It should be exhonoured in the strongest terms from the local authorities AND society.
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Extreme Wealth an' Fas' Cars, A?
"A!"
You know, a guy, e' try to pass me on da sidewalk on da right! 'E come up a ramp an' 'e try to go down da sidewalk an' jump da curb... an den 'dere was da 10 or so speed bump along da route going aroun' da American School. What wit dat guy? Der' was a line up to get on Al Wasl about 10 car long and 'e got pinch 'dere anyway.
So, da situation, it can be understood. It is documented: I saw dis' in da paper (not da 7 day rag ting) da odder day:
"According to Dr. Dennis Pearne, a. American psychologist who consults people on matters related to extreme wealth says: "People from all walks break the law, of course. But, for the rich, wrapped in a cocoon of immense comfort, it can be easy to yield to temptation. A sense of entitlement sets in. "I deserve anything I want, I can have anything I want, and I can afford it""
I suppos' dat if e' want to be in front of me dat bad... so be hit. Jus' don' go killing da pedestrians in da meantime...
But den dere was da ex-pat psyco crazy soccer mom 'o did dat too, not so long ago dis summer... pass me on da shoulder in a residential neighbourhood, eh? Actually it was a flat sidewalk-parking ting. I say F*&% it! and I go over da speed bump wit my foot to da floor... she get pinch on da sidewalk... den latter I hexplain to 'er in my very bes' Hinglish dat she was driving like an imbusile an' odder stuff, eh, when latter stuck in traffic at da red light wit me beside 'er... Not a smart move on 'er par' wen I having a bad day, eh?
T
You know, a guy, e' try to pass me on da sidewalk on da right! 'E come up a ramp an' 'e try to go down da sidewalk an' jump da curb... an den 'dere was da 10 or so speed bump along da route going aroun' da American School. What wit dat guy? Der' was a line up to get on Al Wasl about 10 car long and 'e got pinch 'dere anyway.
So, da situation, it can be understood. It is documented: I saw dis' in da paper (not da 7 day rag ting) da odder day:
"According to Dr. Dennis Pearne, a. American psychologist who consults people on matters related to extreme wealth says: "People from all walks break the law, of course. But, for the rich, wrapped in a cocoon of immense comfort, it can be easy to yield to temptation. A sense of entitlement sets in. "I deserve anything I want, I can have anything I want, and I can afford it""
I suppos' dat if e' want to be in front of me dat bad... so be hit. Jus' don' go killing da pedestrians in da meantime...
But den dere was da ex-pat psyco crazy soccer mom 'o did dat too, not so long ago dis summer... pass me on da shoulder in a residential neighbourhood, eh? Actually it was a flat sidewalk-parking ting. I say F*&% it! and I go over da speed bump wit my foot to da floor... she get pinch on da sidewalk... den latter I hexplain to 'er in my very bes' Hinglish dat she was driving like an imbusile an' odder stuff, eh, when latter stuck in traffic at da red light wit me beside 'er... Not a smart move on 'er par' wen I having a bad day, eh?
T
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On a serious note….I think the authorities need to realise that when someone is behind the wheel of a LANDCRUISER with 90% blacked out windows (or any other big 4x4 ) and they decide to drive with absolutely no regard for the safety of others, they are in effect in charge of a dangerous weapon. It might as well be a gun. No one should be above the law!!! Is it not time that the authorities start enforcing a fair system where by all nationals are accountable for there actions?
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I just wonder how many deadly accidents are caused by drunk drivers in UAE... just to compare to what we have in Europe.
I understand it looks stupid not to be able to learn from others, but like for any kids, learning comes from experience, despite warnings. You wont learn that fire burns until you play with it. I guess this will sadly apply to UAE. At least it didn't take as long as us in Europe to get lots of speed radars, which is a good beginning. It's absolutely easy today to have cars fitted with speed limiters, but of course no manufacturer will take the risk to market cars unable to break the speed limits. Many of us (expats) are driving sport cars which is quite curious considering speed limits, radars and traffic... I feel terrible when I see young people dying on the road but I don't see any smartness when all the ladies are driving huge 4x4 to go in the Mall of the Emirates. They just burn 3 times more fuel than other people to reach the place at the same speed... but of course, nobody cares about the environment since it is so cool to be able to burn cheap fuel !
I understand it looks stupid not to be able to learn from others, but like for any kids, learning comes from experience, despite warnings. You wont learn that fire burns until you play with it. I guess this will sadly apply to UAE. At least it didn't take as long as us in Europe to get lots of speed radars, which is a good beginning. It's absolutely easy today to have cars fitted with speed limiters, but of course no manufacturer will take the risk to market cars unable to break the speed limits. Many of us (expats) are driving sport cars which is quite curious considering speed limits, radars and traffic... I feel terrible when I see young people dying on the road but I don't see any smartness when all the ladies are driving huge 4x4 to go in the Mall of the Emirates. They just burn 3 times more fuel than other people to reach the place at the same speed... but of course, nobody cares about the environment since it is so cool to be able to burn cheap fuel !
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An den dere was da one habout...
"A!"
An 'den der was da one 'habout da guy behin' me on da SZR... Firs' day in da new car an e' set off my, as you say, "parking proximity sensor", in hinglish, at 140 km/hr because e' tailgate! Flailing dishdash an' all da trapping of a classic local driver I 'ear habout... I pull hover... jus as 'e jut into da lane dat I am trying to get hinto to get hout of 'IS way! Psycopat' in a Range Rover, dat.
Decarie got nuttin' on SZR... Dat's a cake walk in YUL. At leas' de're good driver dere.
An anodder tings... Obsplatt, or o ever you are, dis is not for your entertainmen'... Dis is true stuff, eh? Hi don' make it hup, tabernac!
What dat mean, "coulden't be arsed"? I dunno. Hafter all, dis a very serious forum an' heveryting. Better people say wors' ting habout me.
Henyway, I woulden't let dat "arsed" ting get haroun', hif you no wat I mean... 'an hi understan' dat more dan tree period in a row to indicate a pause or "trailing off at da en' hov a idea or sentence" is, 'ow you say, "superflous" or "supernumerary". It's super sumpting, but not correct hinglish punctuation so get it straight. After all, it's your language, level 6 guy.
T
An 'den der was da one 'habout da guy behin' me on da SZR... Firs' day in da new car an e' set off my, as you say, "parking proximity sensor", in hinglish, at 140 km/hr because e' tailgate! Flailing dishdash an' all da trapping of a classic local driver I 'ear habout... I pull hover... jus as 'e jut into da lane dat I am trying to get hinto to get hout of 'IS way! Psycopat' in a Range Rover, dat.
Decarie got nuttin' on SZR... Dat's a cake walk in YUL. At leas' de're good driver dere.
An anodder tings... Obsplatt, or o ever you are, dis is not for your entertainmen'... Dis is true stuff, eh? Hi don' make it hup, tabernac!
What dat mean, "coulden't be arsed"? I dunno. Hafter all, dis a very serious forum an' heveryting. Better people say wors' ting habout me.
Henyway, I woulden't let dat "arsed" ting get haroun', hif you no wat I mean... 'an hi understan' dat more dan tree period in a row to indicate a pause or "trailing off at da en' hov a idea or sentence" is, 'ow you say, "superflous" or "supernumerary". It's super sumpting, but not correct hinglish punctuation so get it straight. After all, it's your language, level 6 guy.
T
Last edited by troff; 10th Jul 2008 at 04:49.
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It's super sumpting, but not correct hinglish punctuation so get it straight. After all, it's your language, level 6 guy.
Great ! Level 6 doesn't mean you are the most understandable (which would be the logic of aviation communication), it just means you are a native speaker (!) no matter you come from Kingston, Texas or Louisiana.Just to reply to Mullah who seems to be a great poster, the first automated radars were introduced in France around 2005, while, as far as I can remember, those radars were already installed in Switzerland in the early 80's...and I'm sure in Europe people also understood there is money to make about it. I'm glad you can at least enjoy the naked Russian girls, that should make your stay less boring.
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When one of these idiots comes two cms from my back bumper (and I'm not in the left death lane) I ususally find that my windscreen needs a good washing. That usually backs them off for a few moments. I always get a good chuckle out of watching them put on their windshield wipers and sometimes it even brings a little sanity to them, if only for 30 seconds.
And I always just shake my head at the stupidity, if you will, watching parents drive (no matter what the speed) with children in their laps. In many western "civilizations" one would be ticketed for such actions. But then again, ticketing here seems to happen once a year when registrations come due. Ah, but they say," it's god's will". Well perhaps God had a hand in helping develop child seats and restraints, to prevent the innocent from their savage parents (from whatever nation, east or west their parents are from).
And I always just shake my head at the stupidity, if you will, watching parents drive (no matter what the speed) with children in their laps. In many western "civilizations" one would be ticketed for such actions. But then again, ticketing here seems to happen once a year when registrations come due. Ah, but they say," it's god's will". Well perhaps God had a hand in helping develop child seats and restraints, to prevent the innocent from their savage parents (from whatever nation, east or west their parents are from).
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Dubai - Respect for Children
Lived/Worked there back when a Dirham was a Riyal!!!
Had 3 small kids girl 5, boy and girl 2 - ALL Blond, locals were fascinated and great with the kids;
However as I worked Offshore, wife found the little darlings a handful down the Souk - so one day she resurrected the 'reins'!!!
Fortunately I was with her and as we wandered through the Gold Souk I noticed the Tension - at first I thought it was due to the 'Political Situation', the Shah had been flexing his muscles - F-4's over the Tombs etc
Stopped in one of the shops where we we were known, and in the course of the conversation the subject of 'Cruelty to Children' came up - yes Our Cruelty!!!
Needless to say the 'reins' came off, but these were/are the sme people who drive like lunatics with kids at the wheel!! (OK no seat belts in those days)
PZU - Out of Africa
Visited the place in the last few years, and after the last time will only travel in Large vehicle - coach etc
Had 3 small kids girl 5, boy and girl 2 - ALL Blond, locals were fascinated and great with the kids;
However as I worked Offshore, wife found the little darlings a handful down the Souk - so one day she resurrected the 'reins'!!!
Fortunately I was with her and as we wandered through the Gold Souk I noticed the Tension - at first I thought it was due to the 'Political Situation', the Shah had been flexing his muscles - F-4's over the Tombs etc
Stopped in one of the shops where we we were known, and in the course of the conversation the subject of 'Cruelty to Children' came up - yes Our Cruelty!!!
Needless to say the 'reins' came off, but these were/are the sme people who drive like lunatics with kids at the wheel!! (OK no seat belts in those days)
PZU - Out of Africa
Visited the place in the last few years, and after the last time will only travel in Large vehicle - coach etc
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Some will recall the large, graphic photograph and the accompanying sympathetic article in 'Gulf News' a year or two ago telling the tale of woe about a local youth who was killed on his (18th?) birthday - the very day his driver's licence was issued.
He was killed driving his brand new Porsche, a gift from his father. Needless to say, he crashed after losing control of the vehicle at very high speed, (as I suspect any one of us would have done driving such a car the day our licence was issued).
Nowhere in the article was there even a hint that the writer or editor thought this might be an inappropriate first car for a teenager. And anyone who has lived in the Sandpit for any length of time would not find this at all surprising.
In the interest of fair play, I have to say the the so-called 'Soccer Moms/Mums' - 30-something pink-skinned Western female expatriates - (although in a different league to the local lads who tailgate you at 30 centimetres spacing at 120kph), are some of the worst drivers I have ever encountered on Dubai's roads. I particularly "love" the ones who drive like they're the only ones on the road with their "Baby on Board" sticker in the rear windscreen. Driving anywhere near a Dubai school at drop off or pick up times can be a particularly harrowing experience where you should expect the unexpected as "Mom" drops off or picks up Junior.
The local lads have the excuse, however poor, that they don't know better. These female expatriates DO know better but still drive the way they do - because they can.
He was killed driving his brand new Porsche, a gift from his father. Needless to say, he crashed after losing control of the vehicle at very high speed, (as I suspect any one of us would have done driving such a car the day our licence was issued).
Nowhere in the article was there even a hint that the writer or editor thought this might be an inappropriate first car for a teenager. And anyone who has lived in the Sandpit for any length of time would not find this at all surprising.
In the interest of fair play, I have to say the the so-called 'Soccer Moms/Mums' - 30-something pink-skinned Western female expatriates - (although in a different league to the local lads who tailgate you at 30 centimetres spacing at 120kph), are some of the worst drivers I have ever encountered on Dubai's roads. I particularly "love" the ones who drive like they're the only ones on the road with their "Baby on Board" sticker in the rear windscreen. Driving anywhere near a Dubai school at drop off or pick up times can be a particularly harrowing experience where you should expect the unexpected as "Mom" drops off or picks up Junior.
The local lads have the excuse, however poor, that they don't know better. These female expatriates DO know better but still drive the way they do - because they can.
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a 20 year old local rammed me the other day, I saw his face just before he rammed me, he did it on purpose, even the police officer was shouting at him 30 min later, I still got the pink slip.
love the statistic btw, you can call it ethnic self cleaning
love the statistic btw, you can call it ethnic self cleaning
Thread Starter
love the statistic btw, you can call it ethnic self cleaning
The ticketing system is only a money earner,why pay on line? If it really was to be used as a deterrent on as punishment they would make you find your a$$ down at traffic court, wait for the judge then pay your fine, a real inconvenience. I learned that in my youth, will admit was was an irresponsible teenager, but loosing my licence for a month, facing the judge and having to go to traffic school taught me a lesson. I learned, never got another ticket.
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Very true, Kaptain. I too learned (learnt) my lesson the same way as well. The problem here would be the judge is probably the uncle of said violator or has a daughter married to violator's third cousin. "Boys will be boys. Just be careful out there, son. Next case...."
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It is easy and often tempting to blame local parenting or the local's attitude for the road carnage and appalling statistics amongst locals and their victims. (They generally crash into someone). The locals of the UAE have had technology thrust upon them in a very short time frame. As mentioned previously, two generations ago they where on camels and now they are in Ferraris. That is not a lot of time to develop the responsibilty that goes with that technology. Their society didn't start with the Model T Ford.
If you see a child sitting on the lap of a driver doing 160+ (aka 'arabic airbag') it is not that the driver cares less for their child than you do for yours, or that they love theirs any less. They do it because they are ignorant of the dangers. As a young Spag Monster, I remember leaning over the front seat of Dad's car, unsecured, as we drove down the freeway. Did he not care for me? The awareness simply was not there amongst the public that this was stupid. So how did the risks become known....? The authorities (government) took responsibility and started to educate the populace about the risks and punish the offenders. The lesson was soon learnt. There is no excuse for a society now embracing these new technologies, not to take notice of the lessons learnt from those before them.
This is where the real tragedy lies, the UAE, Dubai in particular can make great claims about their abililty to move oceans, create civilizations, break world records, build the biggest and best, concieve underwater hotels and offer ski slopes in the desert. But what they appear incapable of doing, indeed unwilling to commit to, is to stop their youth from killling themselves. With all this wealth and opportunity, they just simply can't do it.
If you see a child sitting on the lap of a driver doing 160+ (aka 'arabic airbag') it is not that the driver cares less for their child than you do for yours, or that they love theirs any less. They do it because they are ignorant of the dangers. As a young Spag Monster, I remember leaning over the front seat of Dad's car, unsecured, as we drove down the freeway. Did he not care for me? The awareness simply was not there amongst the public that this was stupid. So how did the risks become known....? The authorities (government) took responsibility and started to educate the populace about the risks and punish the offenders. The lesson was soon learnt. There is no excuse for a society now embracing these new technologies, not to take notice of the lessons learnt from those before them.
This is where the real tragedy lies, the UAE, Dubai in particular can make great claims about their abililty to move oceans, create civilizations, break world records, build the biggest and best, concieve underwater hotels and offer ski slopes in the desert. But what they appear incapable of doing, indeed unwilling to commit to, is to stop their youth from killling themselves. With all this wealth and opportunity, they just simply can't do it.
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Thought for the day
The police and society will not enforce the road rules to keep the population of under motivated, over confident, easily led youths at controllable numbers.
Discuss.
Discuss.
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But what they appear incapable of doing, indeed unwilling to commit to, is to stop their youth from killling themselves. With all this wealth and opportunity, they just simply can't do it.
The MAJOR problem is that many GCC youths are totally incapable AND unwilling to exercise any self-restraint, moderation or socially-responsible conduct whatsoever in most things that they do in public, and in particular, whilst driving. It seems to stem from their having been totally over-indulged and brought-up without any discipline whatsoever. Ever seen them out and about in power boats and/or on jet skis?? Same old problem set I'm afraid!
What's obvious is that the present laws and police aren't providing sufficient deterrents to stop the reckless, self-centred and totally irresponsible behaviour of these idiotic youths. If the road laws allowed for AND enforced the imposition of proper and appropriate penalties, which should include confiscation/destruction of repeat-offenders' vehicles, and/or 'naming and shaming' sanctions to deal with the socially unresponsible behaviour such as that exhibitted by many local youths in motor vehicles, then it may be a start to partially solve to the problem.
Fully solving the problem will be harder, because it will involve (amongst other things) a really concerted effort to change the local mindset that prevails in those youths from the 'I, me, myself, personally' self-centred, invincible, bullet-proof approach to everything they do, into a more socially-responsible, considerate, better-mannered and more agreeable way of behaving in public!
PS. Mullah...
burqa king 
Last edited by chainsaw; 12th Jul 2008 at 00:07.
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They just don't get it!
How can you deal with a people that just cannot see the error of their ways? I had a young local girl skid past me (I was on a red, stopped) the other week at a speed that hitherto was where v1 should be called! She went sideways through the junction, struck the kerb, mounted the pavement sideways, took out two embedded metal posts, skidded thirty yards sideways through sand before coming to rest in a fence and embedded in a hut!! I paced her skidmarks (no, the ones on the road!) and they were 500 feet long! The UK highway code says that an emergency stop from 112kph should be accomplished in 315 feet, including reaction time! And that is without sideways drag, kerb and post impacts and 30 yards of send, not to mention the fence and hut retardation as well!! One can only surmise at the true speed at which she was driving when the anchors were applied.....I was somewhat curt with her in the debrief.
Met her the next day, with her father, god bless him. He ended up telling me to get out of his country and that I was not welcome! I reminded him that my family would have been on a slab this morning and all he could respond with was 'good'. Local paper printed my tirade but edited out this last para.....heads in the sand!!!
Met her the next day, with her father, god bless him. He ended up telling me to get out of his country and that I was not welcome! I reminded him that my family would have been on a slab this morning and all he could respond with was 'good'. Local paper printed my tirade but edited out this last para.....heads in the sand!!!
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It extends to water too. The under day some friends and I were having dinner and drinks on our boat near the Le meridian, when an overloaded (with local kids) ski boat came roaring past towing a tube. Needless to say the wake was most disturbing to our dining experience. My attempts to tell them to go elsewhere were met with abuse back from the idiots. What is the problem I hear you say, with some louts in a boat skiing and towing past us? Well it was at NIGHT. Yes pitch black no moon. That was the amazing thing. Farking idiots.
Last edited by Lord Flashhart; 12th Jul 2008 at 10:20.