Statistically speaking

‘Speed Kills’ is a very good campaign (Two-week ‘Speed Kills’ campaign starts in Dubai, Gulf News, April 17). We all need to support this awareness program to make it successful. The statistics of road accidents show how grave the scenario is and a collective effort is required to reduce the number of mishaps. Last year alone 123 people died in traffic accidents, this itself is a horrifying fact. The average age of those involved in accidents that caused traffic fatalities is 28, and is a point to be noted. The dangerous roads are also identified. Now we know the areas to be careful in. The means of mass transport is already on the agenda, so the bottom line is if each one of us can be a little careful while driving then we can save many lives.

Let us take this campaign seriously and support the initiative of Dubai Police to make it fruitful. We should understand the importance of such an essential drive and that this campaign is for us. If we fail to create enough awareness amongst ourselves then the whole exercise will become futile. Every individual of this country has got the responsibility to spread this message, which will help to achieve our goal of zero per cent death rates in any kind of road accidents and 100 per cent safety on Dubai roads.

From Mr Shivshankar K.T.

Dubai

Lane discipline

There is no doubt that the authorities are always on the lookout for residents. I used to take the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road to reach my office. I want to draw attention to the fact that most pick-up vans, small and medium trucks and water delivery trucks use the middle lanes and drive below the speed limit. They don’t care about the traffic flow behind them. I would appreciate it if the authorities restricted all types of transport vehicles to the outer lanes with lower speed limits.

From A Reader

Dubai

Website comment

Streamlining traffic

Although I am not from this part of the world, I completely agree to the views voiced by Gulf News. I have observed that there is too much rash driving on the roads. Of course, there are some who are ignorant of the traffic rules. Some basic points, which in my opinion would go a long way in streamlining traffic and maintaining driving discipline, are as follows:

Firstly, drivers should indicate appropriately and for a sufficient time period to warn fellow motorists, with the exception of an emergency. Also, some vehicles overtake from the right and jump ahead without exercising enough caution.

Secondly, as the roads are bustling with traffic, all motorists should try to avoid areas with heavy traffic flow. Also, one should try to be courteous to fellow motorists while driving and especially while changing lanes. Moreover, new drivers should be given a coloured sticker as an indication of caution to others. This would ensure that fellow motorists are not rude and reckless towards new drivers and keep calm while tackling the situation.

From Mr Kumar Shastri

UAE

Condolences

It is a shame that this wretched violence has struck down innocents again, this time in Boston (‘3 dead as 2 explosions hit Boston Marathon finish line,’ Gulf News, April 16). This beautiful city is a centre of learning with Harvard Business and other leading schools of different disciplines such as medicine and arts are also based here. It is indeed deplorable that innocent children and bystanders have lost their lives. My sincere condolences to their families.

From Mr Rajendra K. Aneja

Dubai

Creativity required

I am a grade 10 student of a private school (‘Teach children to use Arabic in daily lives – educators,’ Gulf News, April 14, 2013). I have Arabic as a mandatory subject since Grade 1. I am thankful to my mother who decided to learn Arabic alongside me, since I started learning. We both enjoy studying Arabic. I have always been getting excellent marks in my Arabic exams. But the pity is that schools teach Arabic in a very old and theoretical way, through course books only. I have a few classmates who dislike Arabic and they have been going with it just to score marks in it. Schools should come up with interesting, creative ways of learning Arabic, generating interest among non-Arab students. Like poetry writing in Arabic, learning Arabic through television and interactive programmes, should be introduced to make the subject more interesting for all.

From Ms Arushi Madan

Sharjah

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