Hertz UAE puts new drive behind road safety campaign in UAE

Over the next two months Hertz car rental and leasing customers will have the chance to learn meditation and relaxation techniques which will help them to manage stress, highlighted as one of the major causes of road accidents.

Each month five Hertz customers will be randomly selected and offered places on a three day group meditation and relaxation workshop conducted by Dubai-based meditation teacher Hilary Adele.

The workshops will focus on breathing techniques which help people remain calm while driving, rather than getting stressed, bringing back the joy of driving.

Road safety campaigners claim that after just a few hours of this kind of training participants are calmer, more clear-minded, focused and patient when driving, while many also report that they sleep more soundly at night.

Recent figures released by the Ministry of Interior's traffic department show that there were 6,813 accidents on UAE roads during 2007, with 829 fatalities and 10,526 injuries.

Hertz, which operates 13 branches in the UAE, is playing its part in addressing the problem through safe driving advice delivered directly to car rental and leasing customers and to motorists in general through the local press and TV.

Bob Farrow, General Manager of Hertz UAE, said:

"Dubai has one of the worst records for fatal accidents in the world and as a company which is responsible for sending a growing number of vehicles out on to the roads, we want to do everything we can to educate drivers and make our roads safer."

Hilary Adele, owner of the Inner G, Relaxation and Meditation Centre in Jumeirah, said: "The workshop helps people de-stress on all levels. As driving is one of the most common causes of stress, meditation techniques and controlled breathing can help people to relax, remain calm yet be alert with quicker responses to the movement on the roads, and for those who lost confidence in driving, to feel safe again."