There are a lot of great things about living in Abu Dhabi, but I am concerned about the way a lot of people drive in this city.

Our roads can be very dangerous because too many drivers think it is ok to drive while they are multitasking, and an equal number of people do not drive well and drive in a way that is unsafe.

I did some research and I found out that in 2010, there were 3,648 traffic violations in the capital alone – this number is too high, even if it is an improvement from previous years. Why are there so many violations?

One reason is that a lot of people think they can multitask while they drive. Every day we see people typing text messages at the same time that they are driving at 100kph down the road. People do everything from eating to talking on the phone to putting on make-up while they drive.

It’s possible to do some things while you drive – like talking with a hands-free headset – but a lot of accidents happen because the driver isn’t paying enough attention to the road.

Another reason for the high number of violations is that people sometimes make silly decisions while they are driving. On the weekend near the Sheikh Zayed Bridge, I saw a car reverse about 600m down the highway to make his turn off because he made a wrong turn. Luckily nobody was coming – if they had been, it could have been a catastrophe.

The number of traffic violations in Abu Dhabi really needs to change. According to the statistics I found, a large percentage of car accidents are caused by drivers doing dumb things like speeding or changing lanes without putting the indicator on. Too many people are not wearing their seat belts – which is very dangerous – or they’re distracted by the kids in the backseat.

I urge the drivers of Abu Dhabi to pay closer attention and follow the rules of the road when they drive. Instead of eating, talking on the phone or applying lipstick, watch where you’re going and drive safely – it could be a matter of life or death.

Harrison Clark, age 10