Main killer on UAE roads is distracted driving: Report

Distracted driving has emerged as the leading cause of fatalities on the roads of the UAE, accounting for a quarter of all road deaths, according to the latest available data from the country’s Ministry of Interior (MOI).

The MOI’s report, based on data from 2022, highlights the prevalence of distracted driving and its devastating consequences. A total of 85 fatalities were attributed to this reckless behaviour, making it the primary cause of road deaths in the UAE.

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While motorists are aware of the dangers associated with distracted driving, a significant percentage still admits to engaging in this behaviour, according to a study conducted by YouGov, a public opinion and data company, in January 2024. Distractions can arise from various sources, including the driver’s own actions, the behaviour of passengers, and external factors. The most prominent distraction identified by respondents is the use of mobile phones while driving.

Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, said: “Motorists are aware of the dangers of distracted driving, but at the same time, a high percentage admits driving in a distracted manner.”
“It is of utmost importance that motorists reflect on these sources of distraction and overcome them, to benefit themselves, their passengers, and other road users. Distracted driving is the main killer on our roads.”

Public perception and attitudes

The YouGov study sheds light on the public perception of distracted driving in the UAE.
The study, which surveyed 1,001 UAE residents, reveals that 90 percent of respondents consider distracted driving to be dangerous. However, only 81 percent claim to always be fully concentrated while driving, indicating that a significant portion of motorists do not give their undivided attention to the road.

The study further reveals variations in concentration levels across different demographic groups.
For instance, only 77 percent of young drivers aged 19-24 admit to always being fully concentrated, while Arab expats and Westerners report concentration rates of 74 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

Root causes of distracted driving

The MOI report identifies the top five root causes of distracted driving in the UAE based on respondent feedback; mobile phones, behaviour of other drivers, navigation systems, complex road systems and reaching for objects in a vehicle.

It found a staggering 33 percent of respondents claim that the use of mobile phones while driving is a significant distraction. This issue is particularly prominent among the 25-34 age group (39 percent), Arab expats (44 percent), and drivers in Sharjah (58 percent). Additionally, 22 percent of respondents find hands-free calls to be distracting, with male respondents (26 percent) and Emiratis (48 percent) reporting higher levels of distraction.

The behaviour of other drivers is cited as a major distraction by 44 percent of respondents. Females (55 percent), older motorists aged 45 and above (63 percent), Westerners (68 percent), and drivers in Sharjah (49 percent) and Abu Dhabi (48 percent) are particularly affected by this factor.

Approximately 28 percent of respondents consider navigation systems to be a source of distraction, with the highest values reported among the 35-44 age group (38 percent) and Westerners (37 percent).

Another 28 percent of respondents find the complex road system in the UAE to be distracting, with higher percentages observed among the 35-44 age group (42 percent), Westerners (41 percent), and Emiratis (39 percent).

The act of reaching for objects inside the vehicle is a distraction for 21 percent of respondents, with females (30 percent) and Westerners (29 percent) being more affected.

Remedies and solutions

The study also sought to identify measures that could help motorists maintain concentration while driving. An overwhelming 77 percent of drivers believe that switching their mobile phones to silent or turning them off entirely improves their concentration levels.

Edelmann asserted the need for concerted efforts to address this critical issue.
“We believe major and urgent efforts of all involved stakeholders must be taken to address this vital point. Motorists are aware that this simple remedy will help them. It is a simple little action motorists must take to tackle the main killer on UAE roads! We all can do it, and there is simply no excuse not doing it.”

In addition to switching off mobile phones, respondents identified other measures that would enhance their concentration levels while driving. These include speed limiters (51 percent), the presence of speed cameras (44 percent), navigation systems (33 percent), driving alone (28 percent), and listening to music or the radio (26 percent).

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