What if rule ignites aggression?
To all motorists and drivers in the UAE who practice hogging lanes and blocking the left lanes, congratulations (‘Tailgating rule of five metres is not enough’, Gulf News, June 25). You can now indulge in this practice and more importantly, you can do it comfortably while motorists behind you are losing their minds. The average speed limit on Shaikh Zayed Road is 80km/hour and that’s on a normal day with no traffic. This is calculated by combining motorists’ driving habits in all eight lanes. The speed limit on Shaikh Zayed Road is 100km/hour with an extra 20km/hour grace limit. For people driving long distances, an 80km/hour speed average is not enough. I’m not saying speeding and tailgating is okay, it’s not and I don’t support that. In the same way that I don’t support driving slowly and hogging lanes. These practices in driving are catalysts that ignite aggressive behaviour on the road and cause accidents. They can ruin a motorist’s focus. Now with this new decision, say goodbye to tailgating and hello to zig-zagging and aggressive overtaking.
From Mr Mousa
UAE
Website comment
Sudden speed changes
Many people drive on Shaikh Zayed Road watching the cameras and suddenly reduce their speed in front of the camera. This sudden change in speed reduces the gap with the vehicles coming from behind at the permissible speed limit. How will the camera identify such situations as there is no mistake on the part of vehicle at back?
From Mr Sumit Choudhury
UAE
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Changing attitudes
I agree with Gulf News readers Mr Mousa and Mr Sumit Choudhury - people need to realise that driving at 100km/hour in the fast lane with people driving at 120km/hour behind you, you need to move to the second lane. Yes, the problem of aggressive tailgating may be avoided, but drivers need to change their attitude here. The point of people not leaving a two-second gap in this country is so that no one else comes into their lane. I wonder what the camera will do if someone cuts into their lane on Shaikh Zayed Road right in front of you and the radar. Do you get accused of tailgating?
From Mr R. S. B.
UAE
Full name withheld on request
It’s about time!
Finally! It’s about time the authorities think and re-think the safety measures in place. And wouldn’t it be great if they made the “Back Off Radio” device, that will be in all taxis in Dubai, mandatory for all cars in the UAE? The one mentioned in the news a few months ago sounded like a great way to warn drivers.
From Ms louise
UAE
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Distinguishing violations
The rule of five meters is more than enough because of the fact that there are some reckless drivers on the road who try to get into your lane while you are waiting in the traffic queue. After all, radar is a machine. How do you think it will distinguish between the traffic offenders in such a case? In this scenario, definitely the camera will catch your car for not maintaining the safe distance.
From Ms Nijas
UAE
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Who is responsible?
What about any third car that comes suddenly in between two cars keeping a safe distance? In this scenario the Burj radar will catch two cars for a fine – the one that entered the gap, where already two cars were maintaining a safe distance and the second car for whose distance reduced automatically, and he shouldn’t be held responsible.
From Mr Ali
UAE
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Video or photography?
I agree with Gulf News reader Mr Ali. In the given scenario, what will happen if suddenly a car jumps between two cars? Lane change usually occurs abruptly on Dubai roads, so why should the car behind be fined as a tailgating offence? This will surely be their mistake even though they maintained a safe distance. Will Dubai police judge it through video recording or only by photographs?
From Mr Azfar
UAE
Website comment
What’s the minimum speed?
It is not mentioned at what speed the radar will be triggered. If it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic, how will the radar work? If five meters is the distance, at what speed is that five meters coming into play? Is there a minimum speed that will trigger the radar?
From Mr Shakir
UAE
Website comment
Fines for slow drivers
I appreciate the decision to penalise the tailgaters. In the mean time, the authorities should put some fines for the slow drivers who occupy the left most lane and drive far below the stipulated speed. I encounter nearly 10 such people every day in a 60km span. Some crazy drivers do apply the brakes and reduce their speed further if we flash our headlights.
From Mr Manimaran
UAE
Website comment
Help refugees in the crossfire!
If there are so many millionaires, then why not use that money to help the Syrians who don’t have food to eat (‘Bahrain has second-highest millionaire density in the world’, Gulf News, June 22)? Recently, Turkish millionaires have decided to give money to help the Syrians in Turkey and for accommodations as there are more than 23,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey who have fled from Northern Syria.
From Mr Zeauddin Khan
UAE
Facebook comment
Start at home
Why do you think that those people should help them, Zeauddin Khan [Gulf News reader - above]? Why don’t you help them? Just give a month of your salary. First do, then desire.
From Mr Vivek Pandey
Dubai
Facebook comment
It’s their right!
If you have money, then give it away, but don’t tell others what to do with their own money. People have the right to spend it the way they want to.
From Ms Fatima Al Khalifa
UAE
Facebook comment
Finding true evil
It’s painful to know that the murder of 329 in the Kanishka crash takes 30 years and more to solve (‘Kanishka crash: Gone in an instant’, Gulf News June 23). Despite of all the wealth, technology, intelligence and skilled officials, such a case takes 30 years! Some of the criminals responsible might have just lived a normal life and died a normal death. Hatred is ruining the world and people instilled with such hatred are the real evils of our society.
From Mr Mosa
UAE
Website comment
Not a mystery!
I wonder why this plane crash is given as a mysterious disappearance. It has been proven that this was a bomb attack on the plane by a group and people have been convicted and jailed in Canada after a lengthy trial.
From Mr Chris
UAE
Website comment
Strong economy, high inflation
The UAE is currently one of the major spots for global tourism. Dubai’s face has changed tremendously over the years and has now emerged into an incomparable destination with a fast growing economy and gleaming attractions, drawing expatriates, business people and holiday makers from different parts of the world to explore the city’s fascinating side.
In spite of the financial opportunities of living in the UAE, with inflation in the country rising to its highest level, people are struggling to cope with the high cost of living standards, and it is a constant cause for concern.
International tourists spend more annually on travel, hotels, dining and shopping, but due to a strong dollar, growth is expected to slow down as would-be visitors would refuse to splurge and grapple with weaker economies at home. Nothing in the economy lasts forever. It is hard to tell how long the dollar will remain strong because so much of it depends on expectations and other intangibles.
The moment investors think somewhere else is hot they will sell their dollars and buy and invest in whatever they think is happening. Rent and wage controls are methods used by governments to reduce inflation, but this is seldom successful.
From Ms Shivani Singh
UAE
What about relief packages?
It is a highly laudable and encouraging report that the UAE economy is stronger than any other time in its 43-year history. In view of the excellent economic scenario, there is a need to announce some relief packages for the low-paid expatriates of the UAE. According to a survey, low-paid employees and the labourers in the UAE are struggling to save money because there is an all around price hike in circulation. Rents are up, taxi fares have increased, Metro fares are up, expensive medical care and eating out has become costlier than before. The prime objective of each and every expatriate is to get good earnings and save some money to make various dreams come true.
The authorities are requested to announce some relief packages, particularly for the lower-class category throughout the UAE. The proposed relief package could include benefits such as a modernised salary structure, stability of rents in all residential areas and introduce consumer outlets having subsided items.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
Dubai
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