45% of UAE drivers request defensive driving skills – new course launched

Excellence Driving Centre, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner of RoadSafetyUAE is proud to announce the launch of its newly developed Defensive Driving Course, a strategic initiative aimed at elevating road safety standards across the UAE and addressing an articulated need of UAE motorists. This course is meticulously designed for licensed drivers, including private and professional drivers, to foster safer and more responsible driving behaviors on UAE roads.

What is defensive driving?

Khalid Javed, Senior Manager Operations of Excellence Driving Centre which RTA has ranked as the number one driving school in Dubai among all driving schools, explains: “Defensive driving transcends basic traffic rules; it involves anticipating potential hazards, maintaining situational awareness, and making proactive decisions to prevent accidents. Our course equips drivers with essential skills to:

•             Maintain safe speeds and appropriate following distances

•             Stay composed and focused in high-pressure situations

•             Recognize and respond to road risks effectively

•             Safely navigate aggressive or reckless driving behaviors

In essence, it transforms competent drivers into vigilant, safety-conscious drivers.”

Why is defensive driving important in the UAE?

Thomas Edelmann, Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE states: “In March 2025, a survey commissioned by General Motors Africa & Middle East in collaboration with the SEDRA foundation and conducted by YouGov found, ‘There is a growing demand for automotive safety education in the UAE, with 45 per cent of residents interested in learning defensive driving, according to a new survey, which also says that the trend is seen especially among GenZ.’ Reflecting on the causes of accidents according to Ministry of Interior (MOI) data of 2024*), basically all the top 10 causes leading to death could have been avoided by applying defensive driving techniques and mindset. Hence, we applaud our CSR-Partner Excellence Driving Centre for introducing this UAE-specific course which is desired by so many motorists!”

Who Should Consider Taking a Defensive Driving Class?

Defensive driving classes are useful for all types of drivers, including:

• Novice just starting out and young drivers (MOI 2024: 11% of major accidents are caused by novice drivers in their first year of driving; 40% of fatalities in the young age bracket 18-30 years!)

•  Adults who want a refresher

•  Seniors looking to sharpen their skills

•  Commercial drivers who need to meet job requirements

• Anyone who wants to save on insurance or address a traffic ticket

According to the US National Safety Council, defensive driving training provides significant improvements:

• 68% decrease in violations among drivers under 21

• 74% decrease in violations among drivers aged 21 - 64

• 85% reduction in violations among drivers aged 65 and older

Individuals and companies need to embrace their responsibility:

Besides motorists in their private capacity, companies should consider sending their driving staff to defensive driving courses, both professional drivers and office commuters. For businesses that rely on vehicles be it for logistics, sales, or corporate transportation road safety is not merely a regulatory obligation; it's a shared responsibility to protect employees, assets, and corporate reputation. Implementing defensive driving programs offers organizations tangible benefits:

• Reduction in traffic violations, accidents, and vehicle downtime

•  Decreased insurance premiums and operational costs

•  Enhanced employee confidence and productivity

• Reinforcement of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and road safety commitments

Course Highlights

• The description can be found here: https://www.excellencedriving.com/en/defensive-driving

•  Expert Instructors: Certified professionals with extensive road safety experience

•  Digital Learning Platform: Streamlined registration and certification processes

•  Accredited Certification: Official completion certificate recognized by the RTA

•  Performance Assessment: Standardized evaluations ensuring consistent and transparent assessments

• Tailored Programs: Customized training for corporate fleets, individual drivers, and various driving environments

• Multilingual Instruction: Courses available in multiple languages to cater to the UAE's diverse population

For more information or to enroll in the Defensive Driving Course, please visit www.excellencedriving.com or contact our customer service at 600515154.

*) Note to the editor: as shared earlier this year by RoadSafetyUAE, the leading causes of accidents are (Ministry of Interior 2024):

About Excellence Driving Centre:

Excellence Driving Centre has been a leader in driver education in the UAE, providing certified courses to individual drivers and corporate fleets. With a commitment to road safety, Excellence Driving Centre empowers drivers with the skills to protect lives and assets across the UAE.

About RoadSafetyUAE:

RoadSafetyUAE’s vision is to contribute to reducing the number of road traffic fatalities, injuries and accidents in the UAE. RoadSafetyUAE’s mission is to raise the awareness for proper conduct on our roads, in an engaging manner and on a broadly communicated and permanent basis. RoadSafetyUAE’s award-winning platform engages with the stakeholders traffic participants, governmental entities, the media, and more than 20 corporate social responsibility (CSR) minded partners. ‘Tips & Tricks’ are the content backbone, provided for more than 60 topics of road safety, all specifically relevant to the UAE. More can be found on www.RoadSafetyUAE.com