Letters: April 29, 2012

Cruising along
The first step in the decision-making process is identification and assessment, and it’s great to see the police using this technique to zero in on the major risks that cause accidents and prioritise their action plan (‘Police campaign targets deadly roads’, Gulf News, April 24). I use the cruise control to manage my speed on these roads ensuring that it’s set at the legal speed limit — avoiding speeding and excessive fines.
From Mr Randall Mohammad
Dubai

Clueless
It is shocking to know that more than 12,000 people were fined and it is sad to see that some of the drivers did not know what they did wrong when they were issued the fines.
From Mr Mohammad
Abu Dhabi

A few suggestions
Wear your seatbelts and make sure your children are wearing them, too. Do not text or use your mobile phone while driving, check your mirrors, use your indicators, keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, do not jump traffic lights and avoid tinting your windows too dark. But most of all, treat everyone else on the road like they are your family — with respect and love.
From Mr Andy
Dubai

A world changed
I was a smoker for 20 years. I quit on July 25. I just decided I don’t want to smoke any more when I woke up that morning. After nine months I am still smoke-free. The first three months is the most difficult stage. There were people around me who told me that I’ll go back to smoking after a week, but I proved them wrong. You can stop smoking if you think about your children and your loved ones. If you love them and want to see them get married and have their own children then stop smoking now. Only you can help yourself if you really want to stop. There is no secret to follow or medicines to take. I can now smell the sweet scent of a rose and the scent of apples and pears while I’m eating them.
From Mr Frederick Martinez
Dubai

Mandatory
The Arabic language is needed to live in an Arab country (‘Would you support it if learning Arabic was made compulsory?”, Gulf News, April 24). I know a little Arabic. I would support a law making learning the language compulsory for all students studying in this country so that their Arabic communication skills improve. There are compulsory Arabic classes in some schools but that has got no value. I studied Arabic for 12 years in school and I still know very little.
From Ms Shajitha Shifa
UAE

Not good enough
That would be a really good law as there are expatriates who have been in this land for many years and yet don’t know the Arabic language. We had compulsory Arabic language classes in our schools till grade 12 but they were not of high standard — be it the teachers or their method of teaching. Even after 12 years of studying the pupils are not fluent in Arabic. It would be very good for us Muslims especially since the Quran is in Arabic. By learning the language we can understand the book better.
From Ms Tasneem Yasser
UAE

It’s common
You must inform the police about children who are dangerously close to windows. (‘There’s no excuse for carelessness’, Gulf News, April 23). We all know that it takes a fraction of a second to take a baby’s life. I also saw such a situation where a four-year-old child was sitting next to a window with his legs hanging outside. I reported it to the police. When I enquired about this, my neighbour told me that it’s a daily activity. Such things can never be allowed.
From Mr Baiju
Sharjah

Not enough money
This is happening because some business organisations function on their own even though they are private firms. Some companies give their employees very little accommodation allowance, thus forcing them to live with eight or ten people in a small room. In that case a bachelor city should be created for these workers.
From Mr Mohammad Viqar Sharif
Al Ain

Disgusting habit
The municipality should clamp down on all these shops and restaurants that sell betel leaves and similar products. I hate seeing pavements full of spit stains. How cheap are these people who chew this rubbish and spoil the beauty of the country. They have no ethics at all or any sense of cleanliness. The authorities should catch them and make them clean the spot where they spat and also fine them or put them in jail for a couple of days.
From A Reader
Dubai