Emirates Motor Sports Federation - Global Road Safety Initiative Comes to Dubai

Friday, 21 November 2008

Road Star | School | TBYD

Global Road Safety Initiative Comes to Dubai

IN mid March 2007, the Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF) in association with Dubai Police conducted a one month Global Road Safety campaign titled ‘Think Before You Drive,’ an initiative of Bridgestone Corporation and the FIA Foundation.

The campaign was launched at a Press Conference in Dubai on March 8. While the Press Conference was addressed by EMSF Director-General Khalid Al Malik, FIA Foundation Director-General David Ward and Bridgestone Corporation, Middle East, Africa and Russia, Director Yuuji Kanahara and Dubai Police Deputy Director Brigadier Mohammad Saeed Al Marri were among those who were also present.

The campaign conveyed simple road safety messages to drivers and car users, such as asking them to use seat belts and regularly check tyres in order to reduce the severity of injuries in a crash or even help prevent accidents. During the campaign period, 200,000 booklets provided by Bridgestone Corporation on basic road safety rules were distributed to the public for free at Emarat filling stations, Dubai International Airport, City Centre and Mall of the Emirates. Free tyre checks were done at Bridgestone's outlets in Dubai.

EMSF Marketing and Business Development Director Roshanara Sait said the slogan 'Think Before You Drive' had been put up at various locations in the arrival halls of the Sheikh Rashid Terminal and booklets had been displayed on stands which were available to everyone.

Road safety rule booklets were also distributed at 70 Emarat stations. Drivers passing through these filling stations were also given free tyre pressure gauges. In addition to this, posters and hoardings were put up at prominent locations in Dubai while Emarat attendants wore T-shirts printed with the campaign message and logo.

Daily promos, phone-in quiz competitions and live outdoor broadcasts at Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates were also part of the campaign. The campaign mascot, a crash test dummy, was seen at various locations, including Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates, promoting the campaign and distributing road safety booklets and tyre pressure gauges.

Ms Sait said the campaign was the result of collaboration between Bridgestone Corporation and the FIA Foundation, with Nasser Bin Abdullatif Al Serkal Establishment, Dubai International Airport, Emarat and Radio2 teaming up as local partners.

THE BMW Driving Skills Challenge organized by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation got underway on the sidelines of the 9th International Motor Show 2008 at Expo Centre Sharjah on November 18.

The debut of the five-day event saw 28 competitors of various nationalities negotiate a BMW through a specially set up track in the car park located next to Gate No. 3 of Expo Centre Sharjah.

Khalil Mohammed Khalil, Alaa Said Rahrough and Yasser Ahmed Mohammed walked off with the first, second and third prize with times of 26.01 seconds, 26.91 seconds and 27.06 seconds respectively.

The winners received a trophy and Certina watch each while all participants received a certificate.

The challenge, sponsored by BMW, tests the driving skills of participants and highlights the importance of abiding by traffic rules and regulations.

The driving skills challenge is being held daily from 5pm to 10pm until November 22, the last day of the automobile show.

Pirelli, Certina and Mobil 1 are the other co-sponsors of the challenge.