Drivers and Telephones

OK why do we think it is safe to drive and be on the phone?

Here is a great conversation about what to do to get us to concentrate on the road!

The Suraya Foundation

From tragedy to positive community change, the Suraya Foundation is trying to fill the void in driver awareness and create a better motoring environment.

Check out the Oath Campaign.

www.surayafoundation.com

Get involved any way you can.

All Those Left Behind

Volvo Cars Middle East, Emirates Driving Institute and Memac Ogilvy have teamed up to create a CSR campaign like no other when it comes to road safety!

http://www.godubai.com/citylife/press_release_page.asp?pr=29262

The initiative's first step will be gathering stories from the general public. Volvo has launched a site for this purpose: www.allthoseleftbehind.com. By sharing their stories, people will be empowered to promote responsible driving in their community, while cherishing the memory of a loved one. Moreover, the site will provide comfort to those who have experienced this kind of loss.

In October, 2009, these heartfelt stories will be published on a dedicated site, and will spread across all medium. The campaign will spread the message nation-wide: Drive Safely.

Volvo plans to reach out to drivers even further with a series of safety activities for the public with the help of partners such as EDI (Emirates Driving Institute) and MENARSP; the Middle East and North Africa Road Safety Partnership is a collaboration of governments, businesses, and civil society organizations that supports projects that reduce the burden of road traffic crashes.

Roula Beiruty, Marketing Manager for Volvo Cars Middle East said: “According to Abu Dhabi Police, in 2008, 2957 accidents took place in Abu Dhabi alone, resulting in 376 deaths and the injury of 4603 people. Thefore as one of the leaders in road safety, Volvo Cars Middle East has undertaken a major investment in this campaign in order to reach people's hearts and minds to achieve pro-active and positive change while creating safer roads.”

Beiruty adds, “This is not just another road safety campaign with facts and figures. This is as much an emotional initiative as it is rational and that reflects the strong family values of our community”.

With public concern growing daily about road safety, “All Those Left Behind” campaign comes at the perfect time.

You can follow us on twitter @thoseleftbehind and facebook allthosleftbehind.

June 21--UAE School Fees and Driving School.

Hour 1 we listened to interviews from DubaiToday, www.dubaieye1038.com, with Ralph Tabberer of GEMS and Clive Pierrepont of Taaleem.

Hour 2 Alix joined us for a talk about the Woman's Driving Academy.

Email James@arnonline.com for details.

December 1---Sharjha banning 86 professions from driving.

We had an interesting conversation about the driving permit ban that will be pushed through in Sharjha!

Great idea came out of 2 hours of conversation, why are the governments and organisations int he UAE not using NIGHTLINE as a live focus group?

FROM THE BBC.

Emirate car ban on menial workers

Sharjah skyline" border="0" vspace="0" width="226" height="170" hspace="0"> the poor state of public transport in the emirate may compound the problems caused bythe ban

Sharjah, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, is to bar workers in certain jobs from applying for driving licenses, a newspaper has reported.

The ban will cover 86 categories of mainly menial jobs - including cooks, housemaids, gardeners, and tailors.

It was brought in by Sharjah's police traffic department to curb congestion and pollution, the report says.

The United Arab Emirates have one of the highest ratios of car ownership to population in the world.

The report, which appeared in the Gulf News daily newspaper, was linked to from Sharjah's official police website.

The impact of the ban on workers may be compounded by the poor state of public transport in the emirate.

Many, if not most, of those hit by the driving ban will be foreign workers in low-paid, unskilled jobs.

The report said driving licence applications would still be accepted from those with university degrees.

The UEA is heavily dependent on foreign labour to fill positions which locals have not traditionally filled.

Expatriates make up 84% per cent of the United Arab Emirate's 5.6 million population, often sending remittances home to boost family income.

Sharjah's move comes in the wake of a decision by the other emirates to shelve a plan which would have banned all vehicles over 20 years old.

No official reason was given for the change of mind, but it is thought that the impact of the global economic downtown may have played into it.