JEDDAH — The discussions surrounding the lack of facilities for young people in general and the provisions (or otherwise) of the summer festival will no doubt continue, with most people having their own pet theories of what is required and what will work best. However, theories of who will fund those initiatives are very thin on the ground. Much of the discussion also fails to address the logistical issues.
It is easy to theorize, but one letter-writer’s simple suggestion — “Get businesses to assist in setting up non-profit recreational programs” — stumbles at the first hurdle: funding. Whether you call it support, assistance, sponsorship or straightforward funding, the number of appeals for funding to the commercial sector is countless, and it is simply impractical for companies to support every project for which an approach is made, no matter how beneficial to the community. Those with commercial benefits will therefore stand the most success.
With respect to the sports projects so often advocated, I would draw the commentators’ attention to the core problem we experience at this time of the year. Because of the intense heat, outside activities are impractical during the daytime, which means that even with a full schedule of sporting activities our youth would still be left with nothing to occupy them while the sun is up.
With obvious benefits to the community and the possibility of a positive effect on the Kingdom’s road accident figures, the suggestion of safe driver education and driver training programs could bear much more scrutiny, although I would suggest that those young drivers who would benefit most from such a program might be the ones who already consider themselves to be the next Michael Schumacher — a safe driver course would seem rather too mundane to them.
Having interviewed many on this subject, it is clear that this important problem cannot be addressed on the casual basis suggested. More importantly, we need first to train the trainers. Almost everybody I have discussed this subject with has declared himself to be a “good driver” and willing to serve as an instructor. In my experience as a passenger however, they have variously broken speed limits, entered roundabouts incorrectly, run red lights and more.
With the upsurge of interest in motor sport, perhaps we can indeed reach these young men — but by a different route. New automotive clubs are being set up around the Kingdom. Although these are unlikely to be operative until after the summer, the mission statements of both clubs include “to support safe driving initiatives and create specific driver skills training programs for members and residents.”
By the time next summer comes around these initiatives and programs should be in full swing. There should also be several automotive themed activities for our young people to get involved with during the daytime and a number of driving skills based events. Reaching them through one of their primary interests — motor sport — should enable the clubs to redirect the exploits of these keen young men away from our roads and into a controlled environment where they can have fun safely and at the same time learn to be better drivers.
Anybody with an interest in getting involved, at whatever level, competitive or non-competitive, is welcome to make contact via Arab News (e-mail: [email protected]). I will endeavor to reply to all interested parties.
