Dubai Police arrest SZR 'stunt' drive suspects

Monday, 24 May 2010 2:46 PM

VIDEO NASTY: Footage of one of the 4x4s being driven on two wheels along Sheikh Zayed Road.

Dubai Police have impounded the two vehicles at the centre of last week’s ‘stunt’ driving controversy on Sheikh Zayed Road, and arrested the cars’ owners.

Police were able to track the vehicles by identifying their number plates, Bader Dakash, a media coordinator with Dubai Police, said. Both men arrested were UAE nationals, aged in their 20s.

The suspects are thought to be facing up to three years in prison and fines if convicted.

Viewers from around the world watched as two large vehicles – a Nissan Patrol and a Toyota pickup truck – executed a series of tricks including driving on two wheels and performing do-nut manoeuvres, where a car circles around with smoke coming from all four tyres.

The video, which was posted on internet site YouTube and reported on ArabianBusiness.com, sparked a wave of criticism from driving experts as well as regular users of the 12-lane highway.

Peter Richardson, the general manager in charge of technical operations at the Emirates Driving Institute, said: “Those drivers, whoever they are, should be identified and should be punished for that behaviour."

The posting of the video came just a day after Robert Marks, a senior official of International Safety Council, said that Middle East roads were among the world's most dangerous with 18 of every 100,000 people losing their lives in crashes.

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Posted by: Property Guru Thursday, 27 May 2010 6:49 PM[UAE] - UAE

This seems to be a revenue earning opportunity for Dubai. The government can start a registered club for such drivers, charge them for creation of special road for this purpose and let them enjoy it as a sport with proper safety and security. The only problem is that they were doing it on SZR, unregulated and dangering the whole system. Let them do it at a speical place at special price with special safety and give special revenue to Dubai.

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Posted by: Neil Wednesday, 26 May 2010 12:45 PM[UAE] - UAE

What is clear from this incident not so much that it happened but: 1, They thought it was acceptable 2, They did not think they would get in trouble for it Both issues show a clear lack of understanding of social responsibility and a lack of respect for the Police. Why?

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Posted by: BV Wednesday, 26 May 2010 9:31 AM[UAE] - UAE

Rather than just proposing a fine and a 3 year prison sentence, which will get appealed and dropped, perhaps a life-time international ban from driving or even owning any vehicle should be imposed on these young morons to teach a lesson to all aspiring hoons. Stunts like this are to be left to the professionals, in closely controlled situations. If these young guns want to become circus drivers, good on them - but don't let them endanger other people's lives in the meantime.

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Posted by: Prabhu Tuesday, 25 May 2010 6:29 PM[UAE] - UAE

Above their skill and the risk, it is the attitude that official does not enter that area.

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Posted by: J Sautter Tuesday, 25 May 2010 11:04 AM[UAE] - France/UAE

This is encouraging. In my opinion, the root of the problem is that young people in the UAE are bored, they spend a lot of time on video games and then mix up the "real" world with these games. The roads then become their play ground. The many different driving cultures which obviously meet in a multicultural place like the UAE added to the boredom of the youth gives a very dangerous mix. It will be a challenge to change this and law enforcement is very important, but is only one part of the solution.

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