Students to drive change in road safety campaign
PARTICIPANTS RECALL HOW TRAGIC LOSS TAUGHT THEM THAT NEGLIGENCE CAN BE DEADLY
tudents at Zayed University are keen to find ways to motivate their peers not to use mobile phones while driving as part of the Aqdar Drive Safely campaign.
Launched by the Khalifa Empowerment Programme for Students (Aqdar) and Nissan Middle East in collaboration with Road Safety UAE, Aqdar Drive Safely is a university student-driven initiative that this year is focusing on the use of mobile phones while driving.
Gulf News asked students on campus why they want to participate in the initiative.
“I lost two friends in a car accident two years ago. My friend who was driving was texting on his phone and my other friend was distracted and didn’t keep an eye on the road. It was heartbreaking, both were good friends of mine,” 24-year-old Nasser Al Mansouri, an International Affairs student and president of the student council, said.
“Since then, I’m very keen to avoid using my phone while driving, because I don’t want my loved ones to suffer, nor do I want to cause any harm to other road users. I really want youth and people my age to remain focused and stay away from any distractions that might end up in tragic results.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to the ‘Drive Safely’ campaign, and design a smart application that will enhance safety on the roads.”
Finance student Ousha Al Tamimi, 21, thinks it’s important to share the safe driving initiative with her fellow classmates and peers.
“Because I drive, and many of my friends and classmates drive as well, I’m very eager to participate with ideas in the campaign and encouraging my classmates to take part too. I think it’s a great opportunity for us youth to come up with road safety ideas and initiatives. It’s just easier for us, because we share a common language, communicate better together and influence each other,” Al Tamimi said.
Safa Abdullah, 21, enterprise student at the Business School, thinks sharing real-life stories, although tragic, has an immense impact on people’s mindsets. “I lost a friend three years back in a car accident, she was only 20 years old back then. She was in the car along with her family when another vehicle crashed into their car. Unfortunately, this time the motorist of the other vehicle was using his mobile phone. It is very sad and heart-aching, we see many reckless young motorists on the roads who end up either losing their lives or endangering lives of others.
“I think it’s about time for us youth to have a say and speak up, because not all of us drive recklessly nor do we want to suffer from other motorists who are careless. I personally never use my phone when I’m driving. I get easily distracted and anxious while I’m driving, so I remain focused on the roads,” she said.
Abdullah said she felt the campaign would help her contribute to altering young motorists’ behaviour on the roads.
The writer is a freelance journalist in Abu Dhabi.