Learn to drive correctly
Drivers in the UAE should be retaught the basic driving principles (‘Motorists driving at more than 200km/h face prosecution,’ Gulf News, March 11). They need to learn how to use their vehicles efficiently, how to use indicators, the general courtesy they must extend towards pedestrians and the respect they must show to slow drivers. Issuing fines and taking away licenses will not teach them these basic principles. I think there needs to be a change in the process of learning how to drive; it should be made more difficult. Authorities must assure that the drivers follow all minor aspects of road discipline before they obtain their driving license. I know we all go through the process of getting a UAE license, but no one else seems to follow what they were taught.
From Mr Imteeaz
Dubai
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Increase police patrol
I think this is the right decision. I live in the western region of Abu Dhabi and we daily experience traffic from neighbouring countries. These motorists drive really fast. They put their cars on cruise control and don’t want to use brakes. They go to the extent of overtaking cars by using the hard shoulder at a very high speed. This is very dangerous and it leads to very serious accidents. If their vehicles are confiscated, it might prevent such incidents. Additionally, I think there needs to be more police patrolling on Al Sila Road.
From Mr Rizwan
Abu Dhabi
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We can act together
It’s very sad to hear about such incidents. Our respected police officials should put a stop to this. We see many cars speeding on the main city roads, leave alone Bypass Road and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road. I am sure these drivers want to escape the law and legal procedures and that is their motivation behind such rash and dangerous driving. I hope the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and police come down on them heavily. They can do so with the help of other drivers who can report licence plates of cars that are speeding. I pray for people who have lost their lives due to such careless driving.
From Ms Ramali
Dubai
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Find a solution
In Dubai, reckless drivers still rule the road. The authorities have not been completely effective in curbing these unruly drivers and many of them still go unpunished. People with large sports utility vehicles (SUVs) feel that they own the road. Unless this attitude changes, nothing will change. Even after all the laws and warnings, you often see people using their phones to call and message while driving. Unknowingly, while they do so, they slow down the entire lane behind them, infuriating other drivers. Such drivers need to be taken off the road.
From Mr Ajoy
Dubai
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Dangerous!
I feel very sad and sorry for families who lost their loved ones in such accidents. The speed limit should be controlled, especially on the roads in the western region. Authorities should also start a campaign regarding cars driving into the UAE from neighbouring countries because they have no control over their speed. If someday a motorist with an international licence plate is driving behind you, you will either be flashed with a high-beam light, or the car will overtake you from the hard shoulder. I have also noticed some buses speeding on the roads, which is worse because of the number of passengers they carry. I hope the authorities will take measures to control this.
From Mr Imran Ali
Dubai
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This is not enough
Why just have fines of Dh1,000? I don’t think this penalty is enough. If some drivers can put innocent lives at risk due to speeding, they must pay a large penalty, their cars must be confiscated and they must be forced to go through driving courses. Beyond this, I think the authorities also need to crack down on vehicles with dark-tinted windows.
From Ms Jeny Michaels
Sharjah
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A solution
According to me, the best solution is that all cars should install dashboard cameras which also record the current car speed. If someone is speeding or driving recklessly, it will be recorded in the dashboard cameras. These videos should be uploaded on a public platform provided by the authorities. If the authorities closely watch these videos they will easily be able to identify the cars that break traffic laws. They can then issue fines for those licence plates. This will solve the issue for every problem on the road. Everyone would be careful because they would know that someone might upload a video of their rash driving.
From Mr Shahzad
Sharjah
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Cancel driving licenses
Every sensible driver should follow traffic rules, practice safe driving habits and drive within the specified speed limit to ensure safety. Issuing heavy fines won’t help much in all cases. The better option for the authorities is to cancel the driving licenses of frequent traffic violators, as this rule will educate other errant drivers to practice safe driving. Every driver who knows the worth of his/her driving license will never want it to be taken away.
From Ms Lynette
Abu Dhabi
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Ugly truth
I wish Syria could find a way to make it peaceful for its people (‘From destitution to prostitution,’ Gulf News, March 11). The report shows the bitter truth. When you are thrown out of your home, out of your own country and none of the other countries welcome you, then such things happen. God has blessed humans a lot with unlimited things; at the same time, He has given you the right to desire and to live healthy lives. When a human is hungry, he/she can do anything to survive. My message to everyone is - be humane and don’t benefit from the problems of other people.
From Mr Umair
UAE
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Protect women
This report made me feel disgusted about people who are taking advantage of the needy and weak Syrian woman. Islam is a good example for all other religions in terms of kindness and human rights. Syria was one of the only countries that allowed people from other Arab countries to enter their country without visa and other formalities. Why can’t Jordan have the same rules? A day will come when those who are benefitting from poor and weak Syrian women will suffer. In addition, it is the responsibility of the Jordanian people and government to protect their country’s reputation, which includes protecting their Syrian guests. Authorities need to take a decisive action to protect women.
From Ms Zahra J. Saleh
Sharjah
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Look at other options
This is disgusting! It is not the only way to earn money. As human beings, you can do a lot better than this. As they say ‘give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day - teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime’. Do something else than putting down women’s dignity.
From Mr Ekis
Ras Al Khaimah
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Shame!
A moment of disgust for every person living comfortably at home while some people just like us, who are unable to meet their basic needs, are going to the extent of prostitution to survive. We should help them.
From A Reader
Dubai
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Tragedy abounds
The Syrian crisis, now in its second year, and progressing courtesy of a disinterested world and the weak United Nations (UN), is a sad blight on our globe. Societies are now tired of wars, ethnic strife, one-party rule and flawed election results in Kenya that puts into power someone who has enriched himself through land acquisition. The deaths and the tragic refugee build-up is putting pressure on neighbouring countries. This humanitarian nightmare has reduced a vast population to virtual penury. The daily reports of tragedy are only filling media space and nothing is being done about them. It’s time for the world to wake up.
From Mr A. R. Modak
Johannesburg, South Africa
Give help
I request non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to prioritise their attention in this area. They need to build a wide network in a short time span in order to provide the basic necessities of life. May God protect us all from such times.
From Mr S. Bhatti
Dubai
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It’s not about money
I have three questions regarding this situation. Firstly, do you think that the international community has done enough to help the Syrian people? This is a very blind statement because the international community is not a single entity. Some of us very strongly oppose the ongoing funding of the rebellions, training them and arming them to continue their war. Secondly, is money the best aid they can provide? This aid at the time of war will convert into a loan after the war. Aid of this kind is war by other means and more deadly than guns. Just like Philippines and Libya. As soon as Muammar Gaddafi fell, Libya was injected with a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As soon as Hosni Mubarak fell, Egypt was injected with an IMF loan in billions of dollars. If you can’t see what that means then you have a lot of homework to do. The best aid for the Syrian people is to stop the rebellion. Stop arming them. Stop sending them money. Lastly, what more can be done to help the refugees and improve camp conditions? I think the best way is to help Syrians return to their homeland.
From Mr Masoud Al Habshi
Muscat, Oman
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They failed
I am extremely disturbed after reading this report. Indeed the West and the superpowers of the world, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and the UN have failed to act on the actions of an ignorant dictator who has created such misery for millions of people. They keep engaging in dialogues that no longer solve the issues faced by the Syrian people. The strong words of the international community need to be followed by stronger action. I hope that the common people suffering across the world due to the political, strategic and other subservient agendas of a few, find reprieve. Only God can help them.
From Mr Saif
Hyderabad, India
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