Letters: May 30, 2012

No changes

Every road has a speed limit (‘128 Abu Dhabi motorists fined for driving below speed limit’, Gulf News, May 27). If you want to drive slowly then take the slow lane instead of irritating other motorists behind you. I have noticed on many occasions callous motorists using the middle track to drive slowly. If you ask them they will tell you that they’re safe as they are driving in the middle lane. The driving habits out here have to change. The fast track is not for motorists to talk on the phone, text or drive slowly, and this is when a fine has to be imposed. We don’t own the roads and we should not be in our own sweet world when we are driving. There are many people driving behind you and in front of you. Drive smart, not over smart. I am quite fed up with debating this sensitive issue but I don’t see a change.

From Mr Mathew Litty
Dubai
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Whose fault is it?

Everyone should follow road discipline and most importantly road courtesy. I hope that they will impose fines on those who have a habit of changing lanes from the slow lane to the fast lane and yet driving slowly. If the drivers behind them are not quick enough to step on the brakes then there is a possibility of an accident. And the rule is it’s one’s fault if they hit someone in front of them.

From Mr Willy
Dubai
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Teach them

Taxi drivers should be taught how to drive on the highways and to indicate with signals when changing lanes. Secondly the fast lane is only for overtaking and police should be employed to ensure that. Thirdly — like the maximum, the minimum speed should also be indicated, just below the maximum speed. I feel that drivers should be issued with driving licences only when they learn to respect other drivers and signal when changing the lanes. Their licence should also be endorsed or cancelled for at least one month, if they fail to show the signals.

From Mr Ghareeb
London, United Kingdom
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Slow in the fast lane

Staying above the minimum speed limit is as important as abiding by the maximum speed limit. I have seen many motorists driving below the minimum speed limit in the fast lane of highways, which really puts their life as well as other drivers’ lives in danger. This is a very good awareness campaign for slow drivers.

From Mr Mobin
Dubai
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Too slow

This is a great law introduced by Abu Dhabi Police. I wish Dubai and Sharjah Police would introduce this rule as well. Most traffic jams on UAE roads are not caused by signals, but by slow motorists. Emirates Road, near the National Paints roundabout, is filled with traffic in the morning due to motorists driving slowly and inconveniencing everyone. I urge the police to increase awareness about basic civil road sense, and I also wish driving institutes would pay attention to this aspect during training.

From Mr Savio Lodh
Sharjah
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Money wasted

In a country where about a quarter of the nation’s population earns less than the government-specified poverty threshold of Rs32 (Dh2.7) per day (let us not compare with international standards as the cost of living is lower in India), such events should be banned (‘Cricket controversy: Caught and bowled’, Gulf News, May 26). The government should utilise such funds to eradicate poverty and uplift people’s living standards. But eliminating poverty won’t help in the pocketing of money by politicians and that is why such events are conducted.

From Mr Vinod
Dubai
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Great will power

You are definitely an example of what can be done when you really want and try (‘Blind woman lights up corridors of power’, Gulf News, May 26). I personally think that Manar Al Hammadi should receive recognition for her achievements.

From Mr Ahmad Kianin
Dubai
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Role model

You are a great example to all of us. Nothing in this world can stop us if we have willpower and people like you around us. I pray that you achieve all you wish for.

From Mr Imran Gill
Sharjah
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Truly happy

When did body weight start to outweigh a mother’s instinctive love and selfless care for her baby (‘Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ignores chatter about weight’, Gulf News, May 27)? No book says what a mother has to look like. The world needs healthy and happy mothers so that their babies will also be healthy and happy. As long as she stays happy Aishwarya will still remain the most beautiful woman the world has ever seen. Hats off to her for deciding not to jump onto the ‘thin mom’ bandwagon and neglect her baby in the process.

From Ms Laxmi Nair
Dubai
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