First, the good news. Day 1 of the back-to-school season this year went off rather well, with no major accidents or crashes reported from any of the emirates. A good sign indeed even though a section of schools was not in session yesterday and some remain closed even today. Still, it is a feather in the cap of the authorities and traffic agencies for maintaining order despite hundreds of thousands of additional vehicles on the road during peak morning hours. The Dubai Police's carrot-and-stick policy seemed to have worked extremely well with its 'Day Without Accidents' initiative, wherein offenders face hefty fines and black points while drivers participating in the safe driving campaign get appreciation certificates and stand to win gifts, fine waivers, and cancellation of black points.

Having said that, now let's address the ones who believe that using their mobile phones while driving with (or without) kids in the car isn't a crime. I've witnessed parents with a car full of kids engaged in animated conversations on the mobile phone - without the hands-free kit and in the school zone! With one hand on the steering and holding the mobile to the ear with the other, do these mums and dads seriously believe they're superheroes with an advanced ability to respond? It isn't rocket science - distractions like talking or texting on mobile phones, eating, reading, checking social media messages, or even smoking reduce our concentration.

Stats by the World Health Organization show that those using a mobile phone while driving are approximately four times more likely to be involved in a crash than a driver who is not using a phone. Distracted driving remains one of the foremost causes of fatal crashes on the UAE roads, and it can't get any worse than indulging in such distractions with children in the car. Research suggests that there are momentary lapses in a driver's concentration levels even when s/he is talking while not physically holding the phone, but the new scourge of texting or WhatsApp-ing while driving is a recipe for disaster. As parents, do we seriously need campaigns to tell us that we should not play with our kids' lives?

Copyright © 2019 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.