Safe drivers in the UAE may be rewarded as part of the Caltex Roadstar Contest, launched at Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology.
Safe drivers will be rewarded with a share of 60,000 dirhams in a road safety campaign launched at Sharjah Women’s College on 7 April 2009.
The Caltex Roadstar Contest, organized by Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, will reward safe and defensive drivers in Sharjah (April 12), Fujairah (April 13), Abu Dhabi (April 14), and Dubai (April 15) with a 750 dirham cash gift and a certificate.
A Roadstar Lexus patrol vehicle will be in the various emirates to observe safe drivers during peak hour times, and hand out the prizes.
Initiated by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation in Dubai 11 years ago, the Caltex Roadstar Contest included Abu Dhabi last year and was expanded this year to spread the “drive safe” awareness message.
Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology director Dr Farid Ohan welcomed the association with Emirates Motor Sports Foundation, Caltex and other sponsors in promoting awareness and safety on UAE roads.
“I do not know how much more one has to do. Nine out of 10 young people seem to ignore using a seatbelt,” Dr Ohan said.
“Sharjah Higher Colleges are privileged to be able to support this campaign. It is an extension of our own annual Al Noor Road Safety Campaign which commemorates three college students who died in road accidents. We need to do more in the future to get our message across to young people that speeding is dangerous,” Dr Ohan said.
A safe driver, under the organizer’s criteria is one who follows all traffic rules such as observing the speed limit, tail-light signaling, wearing seat belt, etc. Drivers who are spotted doing the right thing will qualify to win an instant cash prize of Dhs750 and a certificate endorsed by the traffic police department of that emirate.
Students from Sharjah Higher colleges will be included in the monitoring panel.
Road deaths are the second biggest killer in the UAE after heart attacks, and young drivers are often the victims of a steadily growing road toll. In 2006, 878 people died in road accidents while the toll went up to 1,056 in 2007, an increase of 16.8 per cent.
AXA Insurance, Lexus (Al-Futtaim), and media partners Gulf News and Radio 2 are also among the sponsors. Radio 2 presenter Rakesh Thomas will announce the winners on his show.
