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Dubai/Fujairah/Abu Dhabi: The horrifying accident that took place last week on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway has led to everyone asking themselves the same question: "How did it happen?"
Officials have cited the main reasons being the lack of visibility due to fog and speeding.
Speeding is common on all roads and is not restricted to the highways, and authorities have repeatedly stressed that it should be stopped.
In a recent Gulf News poll, 69 per cent of respondents said they do not feel safe while driving in the UAE, while 23 per cent said they do, and 8 per cent of respondents said they do not drive.
City Talk took to the streets and asked residents whether the speed limit on highways should be reduced, and whether reducing the speed limit would be an effective means of curbing road accidents.
Instillation Manager Laurie Jaggard, 32, UK, said: "[Speed limit] should be increased even after the accident, with the stipulation that people should be aware and alert while driving. It's not the speed limit that kills people, people kill people. Motorists need to have good driving intuition and they should stop using their telephones."
Annie De Guzman, Filipina beautician, 48, said: "It is very good if the authorities reduce the speed limit on the roads because it will help save lives. At least for the fear of being fined, people will reduce speed. When the weather is very bad, the officials could block the roads if necessary to avoid such accidents."
Majid Abdul Bari, Palestinian sales manager, 45, said: "Strictly speaking, it might be true that reducing speed limits may result in fewer accidents, but I think the current speed limits are reasonable.
"The roads are in excellent condition and wide enough for all vehicles."
Bari said the main reasons behind most accidents are recklessness and a lack of alertness and concentration while on the road. "Such things have little to do with the actual speed limit and they require a different way of dealing with them which could involve tougher training and harsher penalties," he said.
Aziz Nellikode, an Indian driver, 28, said: "I think it should stay the same because accidents happen because of the drivers' mistake, and not the authorities'.
Reducing the speed limit will not make a difference because people who want to go fast will speed anyway."
Mailyn L. Omandam, a 27-year-old Filipina operations manager, said: "I think it will help to reduce speed limits or at least enforce the current speed limits because radars will not read speed violations unless it's over 140km/hr at a 120km/hr zone.
"Speeding is a major reason for accidents. So anything which will force some discipline on reckless drivers will be a welcome idea. It includes lowering speed limits and introducing harsh penalties for law-breakers."
Jamal Kaddour, administrator from Palestinian territories, 50, said: "I think the accident happened because of high speed.
"People do not go slowly even if the weather is very bad and they cannot see a thing. It will definitely be helpful if the police reduce the speed limit on highways."
Faraz Jalil, management consultant, 31, Pakistan, said: "There should be an awareness campaign and stiffer penalties. People should know not to use their hazard lights [while moving] and make sure that their brake lights are working", noting that on several occasions the brake lights are so dim "that you cannot tell whether they are on or off".
"There should be regular campaigns on the radio stations in Malayalam and Urdu so that [those who do not understand English] will be able to understand."
Maribel Calderon, a nurse from the Philippines, 24, said: "The drivers drive recklessly on the highways and because the speed limit is high the chances of accidents are also very high.
"It could help save the lives of many innocent people who follow the rules and stay within the safe speed, if the concerned authorities reduce the speed limit."
Bahaauddin Jamal Mohammad, an operations coordinator from Jordan, 31, said: "I don't think reducing speed limits would make a difference because there are drivers who don't respect the traffic laws and just lowering the speed limit will not make them do so.
"The new black points system, if vigorously enforced, can make a difference and cut down reckless driving.
"To cut down on accidents we have to deal with two types of drivers - the reckless drivers who show little respect for laws or fellow drivers and the inexperienced drivers whose lack of driving skills makes them a danger to themselves and other road users."
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