Abu Dhabi, Sept. 16th, 2010 — The move to rework the motorcycle training rules is more than welcome. In fact, it is mandated, commented a UAE daily.

“It is an irony that a motorcyclist was killed when he was hit by a truck on Thursday at Jebel Ali, that being the day the authorities announced a major initiative in upgrading the safety parameters for the motorcycle brigade. Even as one expressed regret at the death it has to be said that as far as hazards on the road go the most frightening one after speedsters is the motorcycle per se. From wobbling delivery boys with huge big boxes threading their way through traffic lanes and almost falling upon stationary cars to hi octane bikers that roar past you like bullets and swerve across lanes there is little doubt that the RTA is doing the right thing in ‘targeting’ this element of traffic. There are few motorists who have not had a close encounter of the worst kind with a bike and suffered that heart-stopping stab of fear”, said Khaleej Times in its today’s editorial.

This new motorbike syllabus, as it is termed, is designed to give the biker a more vivid sense of safety, educate him on the etiquette of the road and go as far as teach him how to wear the correct protective clothing, especially gloves and helmets.

The parts about hazard management and machine control are highly welcome and must be given priority, it added. 
In the interim it should be incumbent on those employers who are responsible for their two-wheeler teams to begin teaching their staff the right way to handle themselves on the roads without being a nuisance or a threat to others, the paper suggested.

“One of the steps that can be taken immediately is to ban all wriggling by two streams of traffic at red lights and intersections or even jams because that is when they are at their most dangerous”.

If fines were imposed and motorcyclists made to stop where they are and not try to get ahead of the queue the threat level would drop exponentially. By that token there should be spot checks on the size of the box that couriers and delivery companies carry. This may be a false suspicion but all too often there is the feeling that the boxes are a little on the large side, it concluded.

Dubai Desert Safari is a thrilling experience that drives 4×4 Jeeps in the sand with skilful tactics by experienced drivers. Desert Safari is available for Dhs 160 from Dubai Travel & Culture services