130kph tyre blow-out...
Discussion
A colleague phoned to say he won't be in today.
His wife was driving the Prado at 130 in the outside lane when the tyre blew. This pushed her into the central reservation, flipping the car. It rolled a few times before coming to a stop without hitting any other vehicle. That was a bit unfortunate to say the least, however she escaped with minor cuts and bruises.
Now then...
She is 7 months pregnant. She had her other 2 kids in the car, WITHOUT seatbelts on. When will these idiots learn? What does it take to make people realise? Every day you hear of these stories, but people don't seem to care.
Now, should I even mention the subject of seatbelts to this guy, or is it none of my busness?!
His wife was driving the Prado at 130 in the outside lane when the tyre blew. This pushed her into the central reservation, flipping the car. It rolled a few times before coming to a stop without hitting any other vehicle. That was a bit unfortunate to say the least, however she escaped with minor cuts and bruises.
Now then...
She is 7 months pregnant. She had her other 2 kids in the car, WITHOUT seatbelts on. When will these idiots learn? What does it take to make people realise? Every day you hear of these stories, but people don't seem to care.
Now, should I even mention the subject of seatbelts to this guy, or is it none of my busness?!
I shudder to think what accidents are like away from the speed camera areas, every crash I read about seems to involve multiple flips and a big barrier impact. I doubt it'll improve until the driving instructors are of a decent standard themselves.
Took me 90min to get from Tecom to Jebel Ali this morning, traffic at a standstill from the marina right up to the oasis centre. Multi vehicle pileup, one of which was a school bus, helicopters in attendence.
If I had kids here I'd be buying a hummer.
Took me 90min to get from Tecom to Jebel Ali this morning, traffic at a standstill from the marina right up to the oasis centre. Multi vehicle pileup, one of which was a school bus, helicopters in attendence.
If I had kids here I'd be buying a hummer.
Our phone lines were down this morning so was browsing the National website, came across this article.
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/transport/...
Heartbreaking and not so much of a comment on the fact that the driver was 16 years old, just a stated fact.
I wager my next months salary that at least 2 of them weren't belted up
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/transport/...
Heartbreaking and not so much of a comment on the fact that the driver was 16 years old, just a stated fact.
I wager my next months salary that at least 2 of them weren't belted up
dxbtiger said:
Our phone lines were down this morning so was browsing the National website, came across this article.
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/transport/...
Heartbreaking and not so much of a comment on the fact that the driver was 16 years old, just a stated fact.
I wager my next months salary that at least 2 of them weren't belted up
Sorry, neglected to say she is Indian.http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/transport/...
Heartbreaking and not so much of a comment on the fact that the driver was 16 years old, just a stated fact.
I wager my next months salary that at least 2 of them weren't belted up
That story is awful eh? Where were the parents when the 3 kids decided to go out for a drive at 03:30? I can't imagine how they are felling right now...
I would love to have a serious chat to some people (this lady in particular) and ask why she put her own belt on? Just to try and understand the thought process of putting your own belt on and not bothering with the kids.
And what will be the Goverment's response? Nothing, or reduce speed limits. They don't get it do they? I'm no expert, and of very average intelligence. But even I know that if you don't bother teaching people to drive and only enforce the laws when it suits, this type of thing will continue to happen at an unnacceptable rate.
Slightly OT, but I would love to know the stats of how many say, locals have been prosecuted for dangerous driving or the lack of belts, using the phone etc..... I bet it's not many!
Chilli said:
I would love to have a serious chat to some people (this lady in particular) and ask why she put her own belt on? Just to try and understand the thought process of putting your own belt on and not bothering with the kids.
This. If you do not care for yourself then so be it, but not strapping a kid in is neglect. I think I've said it before but they need to so something very sharp to get the message across - confiscated car for a month, 3000AED fine, three month ban. I don't know the answer but common sense does not work so they need to hit the pockets or create a major inconvenience.
Harris_I said:
Are the kids OK?
Yes, definitely mention it. I've fallen out with friends and family over the issue of seatbelts and I don't care who hates me for it. Not to buckle your kids makes you criminally culpable in my view.
11% is the statistic. 11% of Emiratis wear seatbelts.
Sorry missed this. Yeah, the kids have cuts and bruises and that's it. Remarkable given that the car flipped.Yes, definitely mention it. I've fallen out with friends and family over the issue of seatbelts and I don't care who hates me for it. Not to buckle your kids makes you criminally culpable in my view.
11% is the statistic. 11% of Emiratis wear seatbelts.
dxbtiger said:
Check out the gulf news website, article about police giving out pamphlets in garhoud petrol station warning against tailgating.
Look at the photo, guy is quite clearly not wearing a seatbelt!!
They try hard bless them but good god they are their own worse enemies
This doesn;t sound right. Can someone clever work out if it is or not??!!Look at the photo, guy is quite clearly not wearing a seatbelt!!
They try hard bless them but good god they are their own worse enemies
"The safe distance can be calculated using the three-second rule, which stipulates that the car in front should have passed by a roadside point of reference — such as a tree — three seconds before one's car. Roughly speaking, a length of six to seven cars is sufficient at a speed of 100kph"
Chilli said:
This doesn;t sound right. Can someone clever work out if it is or not??!!
"The safe distance can be calculated using the three-second rule, which stipulates that the car in front should have passed by a roadside point of reference — such as a tree — three seconds before one's car. Roughly speaking, a length of six to seven cars is sufficient at a speed of 100kph"
100 km/h = 100,000 m/h"The safe distance can be calculated using the three-second rule, which stipulates that the car in front should have passed by a roadside point of reference — such as a tree — three seconds before one's car. Roughly speaking, a length of six to seven cars is sufficient at a speed of 100kph"
100,000 m/h = 1,666.7 m/minute
1,666.7 m/minute = 27.8 m/second
S197 Mustang is 4.7 metres long.
27.8 / 4.7 = 5.9 car lengths so yeah about right.
Try leaving a gap that big on SZ road and see how many cars fill it!
dxbtiger said:
100 km/h = 100,000 m/h
100,000 m/h = 1,666.7 m/minute
1,666.7 m/minute = 27.8 m/second
S197 Mustang is 4.7 metres long.
27.8 / 4.7 = 5.9 car lengths so yeah about right.
Try leaving a gap that big on SZ road and see how many cars fill it!
Cool, ta. I have never....NEVER seen a gap like that! As you say, if you leave a 10ft gap, someone drives into it. So, you slow a little more, and bingo, someone slips into it!100,000 m/h = 1,666.7 m/minute
1,666.7 m/minute = 27.8 m/second
S197 Mustang is 4.7 metres long.
27.8 / 4.7 = 5.9 car lengths so yeah about right.
Try leaving a gap that big on SZ road and see how many cars fill it!
I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for them.
If their children die because of their actions then they deserve to live with that responsibility for the rest of their lives.
As the kids will undoubtedly follow their parents attitudes later on, they've done us a favour and cleansed the gene pool just that little bit more.
Regarding the 11% seat belt thing - they did a bunch of research a while back and the number one reason for local males not wearing belts was it showed they were a bad driver and that would be an affront to their manhood. Because if you're a good driver you won't have an accident therefore negating the requirement of a belt right?
I always try to not get personal about the culture in this part of the world because they're entitled to do their own s
t and you'll never change them so it's a waste of breath, however - I think, my personal opinion is, that most Arabs turn into fking pricks when they get behind the wheel. There's this whole competitive, face, manhood thing that is so damn childish. They become arrogant to the extreme and selfish beyond measure.
If their children die because of their actions then they deserve to live with that responsibility for the rest of their lives.
As the kids will undoubtedly follow their parents attitudes later on, they've done us a favour and cleansed the gene pool just that little bit more.
Regarding the 11% seat belt thing - they did a bunch of research a while back and the number one reason for local males not wearing belts was it showed they were a bad driver and that would be an affront to their manhood. Because if you're a good driver you won't have an accident therefore negating the requirement of a belt right?
I always try to not get personal about the culture in this part of the world because they're entitled to do their own s
t and you'll never change them so it's a waste of breath, however - I think, my personal opinion is, that most Arabs turn into fking pricks when they get behind the wheel. There's this whole competitive, face, manhood thing that is so damn childish. They become arrogant to the extreme and selfish beyond measure.Harris_I said:
I am inclined not to disagree even though it is dangerous ground. I think there is an inferiority complex caused by a wider feeling of impotence against a sense of neocolonialism. 
Agreed, and I can sympathise with that to a certain degree. However, they are quick to forget that if all of the expats were to go, they wouldn't have such things as cars (or others) to abuse!Harris_I said:
I am inclined not to disagree even though it is dangerous ground. I think there is an inferiority complex caused by a wider feeling of impotence against a sense of neocolonialism.
That might be the explanation for the locals, but the indians/asians etc. are really just as bad. i've lost count how many times I;m about to pass someone and they change lanes into my path despite the fact there's no good reason to [i.e. clear lane for 400m+].It's not just this place, most places outside the US/EU/AUS are equally dire. Its the moped driver mentality transferred onto 4 wheels.
i do notice that local drivers don't like to be overtaken or otherwise outmanouvred by the mighty honda city. usual response is to wind up the v8 and cut across my bonnet. pretty fecking scary when it's a hummer or g55. wouldn't mind so much but then they slow to a crawl for a bloody speed bump!
the older set seem more sedate imo, happy to cruise in comfort in the s class.
the older set seem more sedate imo, happy to cruise in comfort in the s class.
shirt said:
That might be the explanation for the locals, but the indians/asians etc. are really just as bad. i've lost count how many times I;m about to pass someone and they change lanes into my path despite the fact there's no good reason to [i.e. clear lane for 400m+].
It's not just this place, most places outside the US/EU/AUS are equally dire. Its the moped driver mentality transferred onto 4 wheels.
Strangely enough I tend not to get so angry about the Asian drivers, usually because they don't know any better, so it's not done out of wilful maliciousness. I've never had an Asian make a deliberate attempt to kill me, let's put it that way.It's not just this place, most places outside the US/EU/AUS are equally dire. Its the moped driver mentality transferred onto 4 wheels.
I've managed to survive so long here as I've simply accepted the pecking order. It's their country, so they can behave how the f* they like. Sitting in the second tier is not so bad.
i hear that. second division - noone like us, but we don't care! 
the asian driver thing just annoys me as they do all sorts of stupid st without bothering to look/think first yet stamp on the horn if they have to slow by 1km/hr or are held up for a few secs as i let someone out of a sideroad. there's been a few times already when i've been >< this close to shaking the beans at someone.
the asian driver thing just annoys me as they do all sorts of stupid s
t without bothering to look/think first yet stamp on the horn if they have to slow by 1km/hr or are held up for a few secs as i let someone out of a sideroad. there's been a few times already when i've been >< this close to shaking the beans at someone.Gassing Station | Middle East | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff