Chalk up another Guinness World Record made in the UAE, as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has set a new record: the world’s biggest awareness message using LEGO blocks, WAM News Agency reported.
The RTA, together with students and shoppers at Dubai Festival City, set the new record by placing LEGO blocks in a plaque containing the awareness message. Guinness World Records officials awarded the certificate to Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic & Roads Agency.
RTA Sets New World Record at Dubai Festival City
Around 140,000 LEGO blocks were used to make the record-breaking plaque. Of these, 20,000 were used to make the awareness message, “Your life is worth more than a call” in Arabic and English. The message warns about the risks of using mobile phones while driving on the road.
“The underlying objective of this achievement is to send a loud and clear awareness message to motorists, cautioning them against the risks of using phones while driving,” Maitha bin Adai explained. “Traffic studies indicate that the probability of traffic accidents where motorists are using mobile phones while driving is four times higher than those not using it.”
The CEO of RTA’s Traffic & Roads Agency also presented some facts, as follows:
- RTA has reduced fatality rates due to traffic accidents by 82% from 2008 to 2015.
- The rate decreased by 22% from the year 2015 to 2017.
- The rate decreased from 21.7 cases per 100,000 of population in 2007 to just 2.5 cases per 100,000 of population in 2017.
Setting a New World Record, Spreading Awareness
“The Agency has coordinated with Guinness Office in Dubai to ensure the procedures of registering a new world record that serves the traffic awareness programmes and reduces traffic-related fatalities and injuries,” Maitha bin Adai stated.
“Indicators reveal that using the phone while driving may be a direct contributor to the majority of traffic accidents,” she added. “The use of mobile phone during driving is equivalent to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The response of motorists using mobile phone is delayed by 50 percent compared to the response of drivers not using phones while driving.”
In addition to creating the plaque, RTA also conducted children’s activities, including:
- Driving simulator, which provides driving training in a virtual environment
- Survey and discussion about the new “Salama” mobile app about smartphones
- Signing a letter of undertaking, reminding kids to alert parents if they use phones while driving
Here is a time lapse video of the new world record, shared by RTA Dubai on Facebook:
Aside from setting a new world record, RTA’s latest achievement sends a strong message about road safety. Indeed, let us remember that our life is worth more than a call! Meanwhile, check out another record that will be made soon in Dubai — the World’s Largest Vertical Farm!
Comments are closed.