Hands on wheel, eyes on phone
STUDENTS REVEAL WHAT COMPELS THEM TO CHECK A NOTIFICATION OR SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES WHEN ON THE ROAD
Students reveal what compels them to check a notification or social media updates while driving |
Long-distance drives, or feeling bored at a traffic light, are just some of the reasons why youth in the UAE feel the urge to pick up their phones while behind the wheel.
Though they are aware of the risks of texting while driving, and in some cases involved in near-collisions, the urge to use the phone while driving is hard to ignore, they said.
Gulf News interviewed students from three universities in the UAE to understand what compels them to take their eyes off the road to check a notification, or a social media update.
“It’s just a habit to keep my phone in my hand all the time, and since I drive long distances every day, I feel the need to do something that could keep me entertained on the way,” said Eyad Jaouni, a 23-year-old Palestinian student at the Canadian University in Dubai (CUD).
“I start checking notifications, switching between music, and viewing Snapchat [video] stories to keep myself occupied most of the time, but when it comes to texting on WhatsApp, I try to avoid it, because I could get myself killed.”
Loss of concentration
Jaouni often finds himself dawdling at a green traffic light because he is busy scrolling down on his Instagram newsfeed. He only got fined once in his life for using his phone.
“I was driving on Al Khail Road and using the phone to switch between music tracks and I found myself swerving on to another lane about to hit another vehicle,” he recalled.
He realises the risk, but he also sees many others his age doing it. “I have nearlt been in accidents many times when trying to use my phone, but then I get back to the habit and the cycle continues.”
Jaouni said the only way he could stop texting while driving is by not having connectivity. “With no internet access on the road, I won’t touch my phone. I would only be skipping through music nothing else.”
Similarly Tariq Zidane, Jordanian, 23, from CUD, who has had seven fines for using his phone in the car, said he knows the habit dangerous, but is unavoidable at times. “When I have something to say to someone, or I’m heading to a location and need Google Maps to find the place, I need to use it, it’s hard to not use the phone,” he said.
Multitasking argument
“If you can multitask, then why not? I believe I can do it, but I make sure I don’t always text a lot while behind the wheel.”
Shahdan Ebrahim, 22, a senior student at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), tries to avoid using the phone while driving, but will most likely do it at a traffic light, or when stuck in traffic.
“Usually I don’t really text while driving that much because I’m slow at typing and will have to look at the phone longer than usual,” she said. “I only do it when there’s something important. I try to use the voice recording feature on WhatsApp to avoid texting.”
She noticed that her friends take short videos for Snapchat while driving, or write captions for their Snapchat photos.
“A lot of people from my university do that while driving slowly around campus,” she said. “I almost got into a couple of accidents because other drivers were completely distracted by their phones and were swerving into my lane.”
Ebrahim frequently tells her elder sister, also in her 20s, to stop texting while driving. “She’s a heavy phone user but she’s not the only one, even older people do it.
“It’s not worth getting into an accident for a text,” she says. “It’s better to park and then answer messages.”
On the other hand, Mariez Nader, a 21-year-old Egyptian student from the American University of Dubai (AUD) is completely against using the phone while driving and when she sees her friends doing it, she tells them to stop.
Taking a stand
“I’ve been in the car with people my age who are compelled to use their chat while driving, I tell them to focus on the road, or I keep my eyes on the road instead of them,” she said.
“In my case, if I’m the driver I would look at the phone but I won’t read it or try to reply unless I’m parked. I know that it could put others’ lives at risk.”
She said putting radars on the road to fine violators for using their phone doesn’t help to reduce the problem.
“People put down their phone when they reach the radar, whatever is done, people will continue to do it.”
If I’m the driver I would look at the phone but I won’t read it or try to reply unless I’m parked. I know that it could put others’ lives at risk.” Mariez Nader (left) | Egyptian student If you can multitask, then why not? I believe I can do it, but I make sure I don’t always text a lot while behind the wheel.” Tariq Zidane | Jordanian student I was using the phone to switch between music tracks and I found myself swerving on to another lane about to hit another vehicle.” Eyad Jaouni | Palestinian student