A Gulf News investigation reveals a widespread culture of racing and reckless driving among labour bus drivers.
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00:00A welcome sight from the window of a speeding bus, but travelling to and from home is an
00:12uncertain journey that Dubai's blue-collar workers face. It's an overlooked aspect of
00:17their lives. Gulf News has uncovered a widespread culture of racing among bus drivers transporting
00:24workers. And this can prove deadly, not only for them but also for drivers on Dubai's roads.
00:54A bus driver in Sheikh Zayed Road had an accident 2-3 years ago. They were racing there.
01:01It happens. It's a part of the race.
01:04Sometimes they even bet. Who will reach before whom?
01:08It's a mutual thing. Friends bet on each other.
01:12I've been here for 8 years. 8 years ago, I used to work as a painter. Now, I'm a driver.
01:27A driver leaves in the morning. You don't know if he'll reach home in the evening or not.
01:32It's such a dirty job. There are so many people sitting here. I'm with everyone.
01:39If something happens, I'm not responsible for it. If I make a mistake, I'm responsible.
01:45If I don't make a mistake, someone else is responsible.
01:48If the tyre gets punctured, the car gets overturned, I'll leave and take the car.
01:54That's how it is.
01:57He's going in that lane. I'm going in this lane.
02:00He'll stay in this lane.
02:03Look at this.
02:06He's driving at 100 kmph.
02:09In India, if you drive at 100 kmph, you'll get a lot of speed.
02:12Here, there's nothing at 100 kmph.
02:14Look at how he's driving.
02:16He has his feet up like this.
02:18Look at him.
02:20Now, the car will go like this.
02:23There will be no control.
02:24It's the driver's job. Both should be in position.
02:27We also do it sometimes.
02:28When the road is clear, he does this in traffic.
02:32It was raining early in the morning.
02:35It's been a long time.
02:37It's been more than two years.
02:39The driver's tyre got punctured.
02:42The car was in speed.
02:43The tyre got punctured.
02:45He couldn't control the car.
02:47He killed 45 people.
02:50He killed 40-45 people.
02:52He can't do anything about it.
02:55Workers talk to us about a deep-running blame game
02:59between themselves, drivers and bosses.
03:02Time is a factor dictating their lives.
03:05And there is increasing pressure on all of them
03:07to maintain work schedules.
03:09The stark reality is,
03:11this means risking their lives on the roads every day.
03:14Aren't you afraid?
03:15No, no.
03:16Why?
03:17What's there to be afraid of?
03:18I'm not afraid.
03:19I'm not afraid.
03:21No, no.
03:22But you don't tell them to drive slowly.
03:24No, no.
03:25You enjoy driving slowly.
03:27We want him to drive faster.
03:32What if he has an accident?
03:34No problem.
03:35No problem?
03:36No problem.
03:37He will die one day.
03:38What will happen to your wife and children?
03:40They will die. We will die.
03:42A day after we contacted the police to talk about this issue,
03:46they announced publicly
03:47they would step up efforts to control the problem.
03:50And the problem is having serious long-term effects on workers.
03:54Some of them say they get a thrill from the race.
03:57But many feel they are at the mercy of drivers
03:59who don't have their safety in mind.
04:01Sunita Menon, Gulf News.