Enforcement is the answer to bad driving

Today, more than ever, we are all under pressure to stay connected through our smartphones at all times of the day and night. It’s hardly surprising that many people use their handsets while driving. Using mobile phones while on the road, however, is a leading cause of accidents and injury. As The National reported yesterday, 49,643 cases were recorded last year in Dubai alone. An average of 136 people a day were caught driving while talking on or using their phones.

These statistics reflect only a small portion of the problem of mobile phones. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many drivers use mobiles while driving. Although police have got tougher on distracted drivers in recent years, enforcement hasn’t always been stringent enough.

Not only do the existing laws need to be properly enforced, but penalties should carry sufficient consequences to deter drivers from using their smartphones while driving. It is hoped a Dh200 fine and four black points provide sufficient deterrent, although there is an argument to say the consequences should be more severe, because the problem is far too common on the roads.

That is why Dubai's plan to increase the penalty to Dh1,000, black points to 12 and impound vehicles for a period of 30 days of those found guilty of using their smartphones while driving makes good sense. As this newspaper has reported, police already support harsher penalties including the confiscation of cars.

We must change the driving culture to eradicate this dangerous practice. A good place to start this is in driving schools. Educating younger drivers about the dangers of distraction will put the next generation on the road to safer driving. Evidence from other countries suggests education pays serious dividends.

We are not short of laws. And public awareness campaigns about road safety aren’t in short supply. They should surely be continued, but the way to achieve a breakthrough, we believe, is enforcement of existing regulations and better initial driving instruction.

If traffic police patrols are increased, if laws on tinted windows are enforced with tickets and if people genuinely feel that they would face consequences for using phones while driving, then the driving culture will begin to change in due course.