Despite the presence of hundreds of traffic enforcement cameras across the UAE, experts say that technology alone cannot curb the growing crisis of distracted driving. Speaking at the recent Mobility Live event in Dubai, leading road safety professionals emphasized the urgent need to address driver psychology and community behavior to bring about real change.
Technology is Not Enough: Understanding Driver Psychology
The UAE is heavily equipped with surveillance infrastructure aimed at reducing road violations. In Abu Dhabi alone, there are more than 800 enforcement cameras. However, experts caution that such measures are not enough.
“There are more than 800 enforcement cameras all over Abu Dhabi but from my experience, cameras and enforcement are not enough,” said Mohammed Kishta, traffic safety engineering expert at Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) Abu Dhabi.
“You need to teach drivers the reason why they have to be safe behind the wheel.”
Dr. Mustafa Aldah, Founder of MA Traffic Consulting, added that Dubai is similarly equipped with over 600 speed cameras, along with other enforcement tools. However, the core issue, he said, is human negligence.
“Human beings were careless when driving,” Dr. Mustafa stated.
Mobile Phones: The Leading Cause of Distraction
Experts across the panel unanimously agreed that mobile phone usage remains the most dangerous form of distraction for drivers.
“Distractions are of three kinds, visual, physical and cognitive,” explained Faisal Mustafa, Team Leader of Road Safety at WSP in the Middle East.
“Mobile phones have all three distractions.”
The consequences of this issue are severe. According to official data revealed earlier this year, distracted driving was the number one cause of road fatalities in 2024, resulting in 384 deaths across the country.
Sumaya Al Neyadi, Section Head of Traffic Safety at ITC, stressed the wider impact of these incidents.
“Distracted driving is the number one cause of road fatalities around the world,” she said.
“When there’s a fatal accident, it doesn’t just impact the police or emergency services. All agencies including the Department of Health, hospitals, police, and Civil Defence must respond. So, everyone should come together to find solutions.”
She emphasized that public education is critical.
“We need more awareness campaigns so that drivers understand the dangers of distraction. We need to help them become aware of what happens after an accident.”
Infrastructure and Early Education Also Play a Role
Beyond driver behavior, experts also pointed to external factors such as city planning and road conditions that may unintentionally contribute to distracted driving.
Faisal Mustafa noted that “even city design, confusing traffic lights, and flawed infrastructure can be sources of distraction.” He added that regular road audits are carried out across the UAE to identify and correct such issues.
One often-overlooked factor, according to Faisal, is parental influence on children.
“A study done in Australia shows that children as young as four, sitting in the backseat, begin learning driving behaviours from their parents,” he said.
“If the parents are talking on the phone and driving distracted, their children are more likely to adopt those habits when they grow up.”
Education from an early age was another key recommendation.
Dr. Mohammed Shawky, Professor of Traffic Engineering at Ain Shams University, said,
“If you want a culture shift in road safety, you need to target children early.”
He cited research showing that “children who receive road safety lessons urge their parents to stop only in designated areas and disembark more safely.”
Road Safety as a Public Health Priority
Dr. Mustafa concluded the panel with a powerful reminder:
“Road safety needs to be treated just like cancer or heart disease if we want to reduce fatality rates significantly.”
The call from experts is clear, while enforcement through cameras and fines plays a role, true change will only come through education, behavioral awareness, and a cultural shift that views road safety as a shared responsibility.
Technology is Not Enough: Understanding Driver Psychology
The UAE is heavily equipped with surveillance infrastructure aimed at reducing road violations. In Abu Dhabi alone, there are more than 800 enforcement cameras. However, experts caution that such measures are not enough.
“There are more than 800 enforcement cameras all over Abu Dhabi but from my experience, cameras and enforcement are not enough,” said Mohammed Kishta, traffic safety engineering expert at Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) Abu Dhabi.
“You need to teach drivers the reason why they have to be safe behind the wheel.”
Dr. Mustafa Aldah, Founder of MA Traffic Consulting, added that Dubai is similarly equipped with over 600 speed cameras, along with other enforcement tools. However, the core issue, he said, is human negligence.
“Human beings were careless when driving,” Dr. Mustafa stated.
Mobile Phones: The Leading Cause of Distraction
Experts across the panel unanimously agreed that mobile phone usage remains the most dangerous form of distraction for drivers.
“Distractions are of three kinds, visual, physical and cognitive,” explained Faisal Mustafa, Team Leader of Road Safety at WSP in the Middle East.
“Mobile phones have all three distractions.”
The consequences of this issue are severe. According to official data revealed earlier this year, distracted driving was the number one cause of road fatalities in 2024, resulting in 384 deaths across the country.
Sumaya Al Neyadi, Section Head of Traffic Safety at ITC, stressed the wider impact of these incidents.
“Distracted driving is the number one cause of road fatalities around the world,” she said.
“When there’s a fatal accident, it doesn’t just impact the police or emergency services. All agencies including the Department of Health, hospitals, police, and Civil Defence must respond. So, everyone should come together to find solutions.”
She emphasized that public education is critical.
“We need more awareness campaigns so that drivers understand the dangers of distraction. We need to help them become aware of what happens after an accident.”
Infrastructure and Early Education Also Play a Role
Beyond driver behavior, experts also pointed to external factors such as city planning and road conditions that may unintentionally contribute to distracted driving.
Faisal Mustafa noted that “even city design, confusing traffic lights, and flawed infrastructure can be sources of distraction.” He added that regular road audits are carried out across the UAE to identify and correct such issues.
One often-overlooked factor, according to Faisal, is parental influence on children.
“A study done in Australia shows that children as young as four, sitting in the backseat, begin learning driving behaviours from their parents,” he said.
“If the parents are talking on the phone and driving distracted, their children are more likely to adopt those habits when they grow up.”
Education from an early age was another key recommendation.
Dr. Mohammed Shawky, Professor of Traffic Engineering at Ain Shams University, said,
“If you want a culture shift in road safety, you need to target children early.”
He cited research showing that “children who receive road safety lessons urge their parents to stop only in designated areas and disembark more safely.”
Road Safety as a Public Health Priority
Dr. Mustafa concluded the panel with a powerful reminder:
“Road safety needs to be treated just like cancer or heart disease if we want to reduce fatality rates significantly.”
The call from experts is clear, while enforcement through cameras and fines plays a role, true change will only come through education, behavioral awareness, and a cultural shift that views road safety as a shared responsibility.
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