Distracted driving
Thank God this issue is being noticed by the authorities (‘Dubai Traffic Police chief: Slow drivers in the fast lane risk a fine,’ Gulf News, June 21). A lot of drivers have been facing this for so many years. The slow drivers in the front always create a bad impact on the behaviour of the people driving behind them. In all these years I have come across people drinking coffee while driving; one hand on the phone and another on the steering wheel; putting make up while driving or distracted by chatting to other people in the car.
The authorities really need to implement vehicle categories for each lane. The most serious of all is when an accident occurs and the cars are parked on the shoulder and people drive slow to watch them. This creates all the traffic.
From Ms Praveen Krishnan
UAE
Website comment
Recommendations
While addressing fast lane issues I would recommend that drivers also remain courteous to all road users. In this case, kindly give way to others. Many motorists in the UAE arrive from all over the world. Many may haven’t seen express highways, so I think the authorities should mark each road lane with speeds.
Based on the above, if lane speeds were recommended, there should be observed fines that can be applied for both driving slower or faster than recommended. Changing lanes should be allowed only to recommended lanes, speed discipline is then naturally promoted.
From Mr Santosh Rodrigues
Dubai
Good awareness
Nice article on traffic awareness on the road by Gulf News. It is my humble request to the authorities that the same campaign start on the radio and as well on media sources to bring more awareness to the public.
From Mr Mumtaz
Dubai
Website comment
Sunshield dangers
I think it is really good move. It appears to be that most of the drivers ignore or do not know that the left lane is the fastest lane and that right lane is the slowest!
A couple of weeks ago when I was driving home from work on Al Khail road, I saw a car moving extremely slowly in the left lane with many vehicles tailing behind. I went past the car and tried to see from my centre mirror who the was driver but I couldn’t see anything. When I slowed down a bit to see why I couldn’t see anyone, I realised there was a sun shield right across the windshield.
It is simply difficult to believe that there are people putting others at risk when the roads are so busy with a lot of vehicles during rush hour.
From Ms Mangala
Dubai
Website comment
Large vehicles
This is a good decision, but this is mostly happening with big vehicles. If the driver is in a large vehicle, the people behind this person can’t see past and are forced to assume that there is a traffic issue and not because there is simply this one slow driver. Because of that, the whole lane will be slow and it will steadily build-up traffic.
From Mr Nasser
Dubai
Website comment
On the phone
Many of the drivers are on their mobile phones while driving, which makes them oblivious to the traffic around them. Many a times, you can see an empty road ahead of them while a long queue of vehicles behind them waiting endlessly for their right of the way. This was a good move, indeed.
From Dr Veetil
Dubai
Website comment
Good work, Dubai police
By far the best news I’ve heard in months on Gulf News! The slow drivers really need some instructions to know that the fast lane is for fast driving cars only. Good job, Dubai police.
From Mr Mohammad
Sharjah
Website comment
Out of the fast lane!
This is a very good decision! This should stop slow drivers from driving slow in the fast lane and troubling emergency vehicles and other fast drivers. You can see many slow drivers on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway.
Even if you indicate to them to give way to a faster car, they will be very stubborn and drive slower as if they own the road. When an accident happens, they put all the blame on fast drivers and say that the fast drivers are reckless.
To all slow drivers: please don’t disturb people who drive faster than you. If they exceed the speed limit, there are radars to catch and penalise them. You don’t have to feel bad and show off your stubbornness. If you fancy driving faster, drive faster than the cars behind you. Otherwise, stay away from the fast lanes!
From Ms Zulfy
Abu Dhabi
A lot of hassle
I would also like to see fines for all the trucks that get in the fast lane. They create a lot of sluggishness as well, and especially with a bulky body, they cover the view of the road ahead. It creates a lot of hassle for other cars.
From Mr M. R.
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Progress
I am glad that such rules are being put in place to improve efficiency. Taking care of slow and fast drivers! These are good signs of traffic control progress.
From Mr Mustafa
Dubai
Website comment
Dangerous hazard
It is not just the fast lane. On all roads you will find drivers driving slowly in various lanes below the general speed and not in the slow lane. Is there any driver education in the UAE about keeping to the right? They pick a lane and drive at whatever speed they feel like. They are a dangerous hazard to other road users and should be treated as such.
From Mr John
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Important issue
Thank you for raising such an important issue. We are the daily sufferers on the road due to slow drivers in the fast lanes. I believe that slow drivers have no clue about the amount of risk they carry during such an act. Thank you once again to the authorities for bringing this awareness to people.
From Mr Mohammad Yaqub
Dubai
Observing and changing
Many a times it happens to me. Even when the car in front of me is driving slow and doesn’t want to give way, I can see that they are either talking on the phone or to the passenger next to them. My thanks to the authorities.
From Mr Rashad Khan
Dubai
Website comment
Perspective
It is really upsetting to see pictures like this and to read about news on Syria (‘10.8 million Syrians need humanitarian aid,’ Gulf News, June 21). On one side of the world we have pomp, joy and celebration of so many events and meanwhile on the other side there are these unfortunate people. What a world of contrast we live in!
From Ms Shereen Mir
Dubai
Not religion
It is a political situation. Don’t confuse it with religion. Religion never spread hatred, only people can do this in any part of the world. All are stuck in this vicious cycle of sectarian violence. The so called peaceful Buddhists in Colombo have created havoc. Does their religion have any hand in that? No, because it’s the people who are lacking wisdom and compassion that are the main culprits.
The people who have negative things to say on this issue are trying to justify their belief and blame others who are no less ignorant and are party to it.
From Mr Khaleeque Choudhry
UAE
Facebook comment
Sri Lankans together
In responding to the letter and to show appreciation to Ms. Iroshana about her explanation about the reality in Sri Lanka (‘Violence in Sri Lanka - letters: June 21, 2014, Gulf News, June 21). My dear Muslim friends: you all know that Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils, Burgher Malay and the other nationalities who are living in my country were suffering for more than 30 years because of a fierce, war which ended five years ago.
We are all Sri Lankans forever. We all remember the Muslim hero, Major Thuwan Meedin and Colonel Tuan Nizam Muthaliff who sacrificed their lives to save our motherland from the volatility.
From Mr Lakhidhu Nethsara
Dubai
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