March 13, 2008

The accident was inevitable
The Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway accident was bound to happen ("Fiery deaths in fog," Gulf News, March 12). The only way I can describe the standard of driving is utter madness coupled with the fact that all cars do not have high visibility rear fog lamps - the first thing I looked for in my car when fog descended last November.

One must always drive to match the conditions and be able to stop safely if need be. The only way to reduce fatalities and accidents is to introduce unmarked video-equipped police cars, and stiffer penalties, including custodial sentences for dangerous driving.

Fixed cameras do not deter speeding drivers; it simply slows them until they have passed the camera. If positive action is not taken then the death toll will continue to rise. I feel for the dead and wish the injured a speedy recovery.
From Mr Dave Henderson
UAE

Better late
This incident reminds me it is better to be late than dead on time. The catastrophe near Ghantoot was an incident not an accident. Poor decisions by drivers, with foreseeable consequences, caused the horror.

Secondly, most vehicles that were being towed late in the afternoon had their passenger compartments intact despite severe body damage.

This means that if all people inside used seatbelts, they should have walked away, albeit with a few bruises.
From Ms Kim Thompson
Sharjah

Let's do it
After the horrendous crash and carnage caused by the accident in the Ghantoot area, this is the perfect time to address the issue of road safety or the lack of it.

As the population grows, it will be increasingly difficult to change future generations, which is why we cannot start soon enough. Road users: a tremendous re-training and education campaign are needed to enable them to meet the required safety conditions.

Law and enforcement: an overhaul of enforcement, and strict adherence to the law, can and will change road user behaviour. What took developed countries 50 years to achieve, we can achieve in five - let's do it.
From Mr Mostafa K. Al Dah
UAE

Respect life
While leaving from work yesterday, I thought people would have some fear, especially after the horrific accident. To my surprise, it was worse, with most people driving like maniacs.

I don't think such inconsiderate drivers will ever get the point. My message to them : if you don't care for or respect your life, at least think about others.
From Ms Farhat Shagufta
UAE

Get the message
Monday's horrific crash was just waiting to happen. We have a lot of foggy mornings in the UAE. On each and every one of them you can see people driving recklessly, speeding and hazard lights flashing.

As long as drivers continue to flagrantly disregard the speed limits and rules on our roads, more people are going to get killed and injured. When is it going to stop? When are people going to get the message that speed kills?

While driving through Shaikh Zayed Road, though there was no fog, all the speedsters were flashing by in the fast lane. These people are selfish and pathetic and have a total disregard for life, be it other people's or their own.
From Ms Lisa Bontoft
Dubai

Highway people
If the headlights are not switched on, windows are tinted over the legal limit, driving speed goes beyond 160 km/h limit, there's coffee in one hand, and a copy of a newspaper on the steering wheel, what else does one expect to happen, if not a horrendous accident?

Having travelled daily on the same route for the past four years, I see such instances almost every day. I can bet that all those who are suffering now are the ones that didn't cause the accident.
From Mr Ashwin Shan
UAE

Brilliant job
I commute on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway on a daily basis. My heart goes out to those affected by the tragic accident. I congratulate the Abu Dhabi police and all personnel involved in the rescue efforts. It was a brilliant job done by them.
From Mr Crishanth Alexander
Dubai

Scared
I was not surprised when I heard about the huge accident. Some people said that the fog could have been one of the reasons.

I agree, however, speeding drivers are also a major cause. I am usually scared to drive on the highway because of such motoristss.
From Mr Devolder Loic
Sharjah

Death trap
I am a regular user of the road from Abu Dhabi and find the drive a big strain on my nerves. It's a death trap owing to speeding drivers. Radars with no "margins" and heavier fines and bigger penalties should be installed on these highways.
From Ms Jayashree B.
UAE

Worse situation
I don't think we need to slow down to 40 km/h in bad weather conditions. I guess that would make the situation worst. It's just fog, not rain. Speed limit depends on individual judgement.

My advice - don't drive if you think you cannot adhere to the required speed and are afraid to do so. Additionally, don't drive if you are going to endanger the lives of others.
From Ms Marlyn P.
Abu Dhabi

Bad advice
I happened to be listening to one of our radio jockeys, cautioning drivers and telling people how to drive in the fog, by asking everyone to switch on the hazard lights. This is wrong - if people don't know, please don't advise. Stop giving the wrong information!
From Mr Syed Anjum Irfan
UAE

Inevitable
I was horrified, and saddened, but not surprised about the tragic pile-up caused by the road accident. Most people who drive in the UAE have no concept of maintaining a safe driving distance.

The result is usually bumper-to-bumper traffic. But at higher speeds, pile-ups are inevitable. The authorities need to educate and enforce maintenance of safe distances between cars. Tailgating and flashing of headlights should be made serious offences.
From Mr Sean Leonard
Abu Dhabi

A promise
I am now terrified of driving, as the photographs of the crushed cars have shaken me completely. All of us at some point have hurried across to reach a place, be it the office, an appointment, lunch or the cinema.

Perhaps we don't realise how badly it could go wrong. The coverage by Gulf News helped remind us what our actions could result in. I have made a promise not to speed. I hope others will follow suit.
From Ms Sara Harver
Dubai

Bad drivers
Little did all those people know what they were setting out for that horrible morning. We never know what is in store for us. Despite the horror of what took place, I still see people speeding along.

You still have crazed drivers on the road, who firmly believe that a few centimetres are good enough distance to keep between cars. When will people ever learn? If death cannot teach us, nothing can.
From Mr Vijay Bhagwath
Abu Dhabi

Reckless behaviour
Reckless drivers are overly confident of their abilities to control vehicles at high speeds. While careful drivers will slow down in bad driving conditions, these reckless drivers try to make the most by maintaining high speeds.

Unfortunately at those speeds, even in normal driving conditions, one small mistake results in horrific accidents. My prayers are with those who passed away and wish a fast recovery for the injured.
From Mr Arshad
Sharjah
Website comment

Media exposed
The article on media downplaying big news was well thought out ("When the media becomes distraction", Gulf News, March 9). I recently met a journalist on a flight from London and we discussed the same issue.

When Israel bombed the UN camp in Lebanon, killing hundreds of women and children, a reputed international news channel broadcasted a film about the Holocaust that occurred more than a decade ago.

They show what seems to befit US or Israel as they are afraid of backlash. Arab news channels have broadcasted the issue in a completely different way — I hope they continue to expose the hypocrisy of the so-called liberal channels.
From Mr Syed Riza
Abu Dhabi

Hasty decision
The news about placing a ceiling on the prices of essential commodities has come as a bolt ("Price ceiling to fuel food supply crisis", Gulf News, March 9). This may make the consumer happy, but in the long run it will prove to be a misdirected step.

I wonder how the authorities approved of this decision without first consulting with the representatives of the traders, and working out landing costs of items. Rising food prices is a global phenomenon on account of so many reasons — declining purchasing powers included.

Authorities should have worked out the retail prices after a systematic study of the landing costs with the help of importers and traders. I am afraid all this will result in acute shortages, quality deterioration, adulterations and malpractices such as short weighing.

As I understand, the landing cost of a 39kg bag of Basmati rice in the region is Dh142. How then can the importer make a profit by selling it to a retailer who is bound by the maximum retail price of Dh145? I suppose the same will be the fate of many other commodities.

As in other countries, the government should have a food corporation in the UAE, for stocking and selling food grains at controlled rates. This hasty step, I am afraid, is going to cause many hardships to traders as well as consumers. I also wonder why such a step has not been taken with regard to the ever-escalating house rents!

Authorities have all the cost data and can conveniently fix rent ceilings for studio flats, one-bedroom flats, bigger apartments and villas. Why this special, privileged treatment for property dealers? Drastic steps such as salary increases should be ordered on priority to improve the purchasing capacity of consumers.
From Mr Dharam Bir Singh
Dubai

No disrespect
The very word 'religion' means one's opinion or concept of God ("Muslim-Catholic talks underway in Vatican City", Gulf News, March 4). Religions differ in different parts of the world; hence humanity has been at loggerheads for centuries regarding the right way.

As all rivers flow into the same ocean, every religious scripture — at its core — preaches the magnificent oneness of the whole. As one realises a spark of this reality, there will be no room for any kind of disrespect towards any other religion.
From Mr Rajgopal P. R.
Sharjah

Wonderful skills
Suchitra Bajpai Chaudhary's recent write up in the Off the Cuff column truly relates to a lot of North Indians ("To my aunt, with nostalgia", Gulf News, March 9). It is a fact that the stories she narrates are very common for people from the northern part of India.

I would like to congratulate the writer for her wonderful skills of narrating an incident or story. Gulf News should be proud to have such an excellent writer on their team. I make a point to read her articles always. Keep it up!
From Mr K. K. Tewari
Dubai

Duty of parents
It is indeed tragic that children's lives are being snuffed out because of the carelessness of school bus drivers, supervisors and the schools themselves ("Schools and bus drivers responsible for safety of pupils", Gulf News, March 9).

Being a parent myself, I know that our children mean the world to us and that their loss is something we can never accept. I would however like parents to ponder over one issue — are we, as parents, taking the time and effort in our hectic schedules, to educate our children about basic road rules?

When our child starts going to school for the first time by bus, shouldn't we tell him or her how to board and get off a bus, how to behave while on board and the precautions he or she must take before crossing the road? It is very easy to blame others, but have parents done their duties?
From Mr Pradeep Govindan
UAE

Safety is priority
Schools, buses and children have been making headlines this year for all the wrong reasons ("Schools and bus drivers responsible for safety of pupils", Gulf News, March 9). Why is it that we wait for tragedies to strike before doing anything about it?

In order to make sure safety is a top-priority, seatbelts should be provided for all children on the bus. It will ensure safety in a collision and reduce over-crowding. A supervisor must also always accompany the bus driver.

They should both be aware of the threats to the safety of children. Also, parking sensors should be fitted on all buses and motorists should be warned never to overtake buses that are letting off or picking up passengers.
From Ms Ineke Dsouza
Dubai