FedEx, Dubai Police work to educate Emirati students about road safety

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), and the world’s largest express transportation company, has again joined forces with Dubai Police to launch the 2017 edition of its Driving Skills competition. Driving Skills is an annual, month-long outreach program that teaches university students in the UAE how to drive safely on the roads, with increased awareness of traffic safety.

Officials of the GCC Traffic Week announced earlier this year that 45 per cent of all traffic accidents involved youth, and that fatal accidents increased in 2016 by 7.4 percent. Distracted motorists are claimed as being the cause of 18 percent of accidents, followed by 15 percent due to sudden swerving, 13 percent due to tailgating, and 10 percent a result of speeding.  Overtaking other vehicles and jumping red lights were also highlighted as causes of accidents in 2016.

The FedEx Driving Skills competition, now in its fourth year, falls under the FedEx global citizenship pillar of Road Safety.  It targets Emirati students aged 18 and up, and in 2017 will educate 1,200 students from both the men’s and women’s divisions of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University, as well as students from Manipal University.

The campaign invites students to an interactive education program, including lectures and practical activities delivered by specialists and Dubai Police representatives.  Students can experience first-hand what it feels like to be in a rolling car, while learning the importance of wearing a seat belt in simulations.  Speed and tire safety, as well as everyday driving habits such as not using mobiles and using indicators, are also taught.

During the on-track activity, students with valid UAE licenses compete to showcase their safe driving skills during a timed demonstration.  At the end of the April competition, three men and three women will be crowned as road safety ambassadors.

 “With around 50,000 motorized vehicles on the road across more than 220 countries and territories around the globe, FedEx is an ideal to source of knowledge and support for safe driving,” said David Ross, regional president of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.  “The Driving Skills competition enables us to teach UAE students to follow the same rigorous adherence to local laws as our couriers and team members do. Through this program, in partnership with Dubai Police, we aim to contribute towards creating more aware drivers and, consequently, a safer driving environment.”

“Young drivers are a demographic that we need to address very seriously in our role as educators for safe driving. We are sincerely pleased that the FedEx Driving Skills Competition has been reaching out to them and providing them not only a theoretical and experiential experience, but also gives them the opportunity to participate in a competition that focuses on safety over speed. We are pleased to see the eagerness of the youth to participate and learn from this campaign,” said, Col. Jamal Mohammed Al Bannai – Assistant Director, General Department of Traffic, Dubai Police

Deema Hussein, Traffic Awareness Senior Manager of the Roads and Transport Authority said: “Road safety is more than just in the interest of individual road-users; it is an integral component in developing Dubai’s road infrastructure to become world-leading. By elevating road safety standards, through increased driver awareness and respect for road laws, we can lower the number of incidents that occur, thereby creating a safer Dubai for all.”