FedEx Driving Skills Challenge

An exciting track event to promote safe driving among UAE youth

Road safety among young adults has been a common cause of concern and it is clearly important to address this in a manner where they understand the need to follow rules and create safer roads. The FedEx Driving Skills Competition is designed to engage students both Emirati as well as other resident students from eminent colleges across the UAE.

This outreach program which was initiated in 2010 runs across a month and is a combination of an interactive education program which include an audio visual presentation and practical activities which are delivered by specialists and supported by the Police. The practical experiences in a roll over simulator and a seatbelt convincer demonstrates the importance of wearing seat belts and avoiding speed. Tire safety, the critical need for not using mobile phones and using indicators are also highlighted.

This is further put into practice with the Driving Skills Challenge an on-track activity where students with valid UAE licenses compete to showcase their driving skills during a time bound competition. The Driving Skills Challenge has proven to be very popular with the youth especially the emphasis on the skill, young drivers get to experience maneuvers that improve their car handling skills which include braking techniques. Though it is a timed competition, the emphasis is on skill and not speed.

So far over 10,000 students in the UAE have been a part of this exercise.