Students heed Sulayem's plea to take Speeding off the roads

Mohammed Ben Sulayem: urged students to take their passion for speed off the roads. 

Students say they will observe a plea from UAE rally legend Mohammed Ben Sulayem to take their passion for speed off the roads and into a controlled motor sport environment.

The 14-times FIA Middle East rally champion told 700 students that the senseless loss of young lives in road accidents in the UAE must stop.

Speaking at the official opening of the Al-Noor Safe Driving Campaign at Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE, urged young Emiratis to join car clubs and make use of first-class facilities such as the Dubai Autodrome.

"If you want to drive fast there’s a time and a place for it," he said. "You can’t be a racing driver on the roads. If you want to drive fast, join a club and learn to do it safely, in a controlled environment, during organised events."

Fadwa Lkorchy, a Counselor at Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology and Chair Person of the week-long safe driving campaign which began on Wednesday, said: "Mohammed reached the students in a way we couldn’t have imagined.

"One of our teachers asked them for their reaction and one of the response was overwhelmingly positive. One of the students said: ‘I know now that if I want to drive a car at speed I’ll have to do it in a safe place so that I won’t hurt myself or any others.’ Another said: ‘He’s so right. We have to think more about how we drive on the roads."

Added Lkorchy: "Mohammed also made a big impact on the students with his comments about safe guarding their identity, their heritage, and the gift of close family ties. As a counselor I see these issues as part of the greater problem, and he’s right - we are loosing it, and loosing our young in the process." 

Taking place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the Al-Noor Safe Driving Campaign campaign aims to raise road safety awareness and traffic dangers among young adults and the broader community.

It also aims to promote responsible driving habits to reduce the number of accidents and tragedies on UAE roads caused by reckless and irresponsible driving.

Students have produced a series of compelling posters and commercials carrying strong messages about driving responsibilities and the tragic consequences of road accidents.

- Tony Lewis, Total Communications Dubai - also photos