Letters: Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community.
Stricter laws for taxi drivers
We all know that taxi is a popular form of public transport in the UAE, as the Metro network is still developing (‘Dubai taxi services tested and rated,’ Gulf News, March 17). We also know that the accident rate is very high in the UAE. And we know that the taxi drivers drive recklessly. Of course, this will lead to accidents. Sometimes I get so irritated when a taxi is parked in the middle of a road to pick up passengers and people have to apply sudden brakes. They block traffic and risk lives. Honestly, I am not even sure if taxi drivers go through driving classes. You can name any traffic offence and believe me the taxi drivers have done it. There is so much police patrol on the roads, but why don’t they catch the drivers? Aren’t the drivers scared of fines and offences? I don’t understand.
From Ms Sahj S.
Dubai
Inconsiderate
Are you joking with me? Of all the years that I have spent in Dubai, I can hardly remember a ride when the taxi driver drove safely. Most drivers drive at such a high speed, as if the world is about to end. Tailgating, cutting through numerous lanes and changing lanes without indicating are like a regular habits of these drivers. No matter how much a car behind them will be honking, taxis will never give way to others. But, when it comes to them, they will honk on every small thing and drive so close to other cars. Even though there are rules and designated areas to pick up passengers, taxi drivers will stop anywhere they see a customer, even if it is in the middle of a roundabout. Something really needs to be done to control these rash drivers on roads.
From Mr Ivan
Dubai
Website comment
Impatient
I don’t know what has happened to the taxi drivers recently. I have been noticing for the past month that there is a complete change in the attitude of most drivers. As soon as a car around them applies brakes, they start honking. Some drivers are very violent. They drive so recklessly behind other cars that they end up forcing others to drive fast, too. This is often very dangerous. I live in Deira, which is a very busy area and such recklessness is very risky. The drivers need to get a hang of themselves and stop honking for every small reason, this just makes the other drivers nervous.
From Mr Mohammad Azeem Hashemi
Dubai
Website comment
Smelly taxis in summer
The cleanliness of the taxi or a private car depends on weather in the city. At present the weather is pleasant. It is during the summer months when the smell in some taxis is unbearable. Most of them simply stink. I can live with the lack of cleanliness, but it’s the rash driving that scares me. It is horrible. Last week I saw that a taxi driver jumped a red signal and then applied his brakes in the middle of a junction. Speeding, overtaking, tailgating and all other ways that increase chances of an accident are practiced by taxi drivers. According to me, the ratings in this article are too high.
From Mr Sarim
Dubai
Website comment
Stop!
Yesterday while I was helping an old woman to stop a taxi, the driver stopped, but as soon as he realised that the distance she needed to travel was short, he simply drove off. It wasn’t the first time, this happens all the time with Dubai and Sharjah taxis.
From Mr Sakariya A. I.
Dubai
Website comment
Not sure
In my opinion the party led by Arvind Kejriwal has entered the poll campaign a bit late. There was no clarity whether Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would be only in Delhi or everywhere in India. This chaos will be a setback in the party’s political future. The party is only strong in Northern India, because the party’s think tank does not seem to be giving enough time to propagate its schemes during the election days. In the rarest of rarest case, AAP might be able to provide some seats for a party to form a government, but that also looks unlikely considering that no one wants a strong anti-corruption law. I suggest that AAP should stop criticising just one person or one part and do the same to all those who have been corrupt and have let the nation down. Blind bashing is not acceptable and a common man needs proof. What they could do now in order to consolidate their position is spell out what would be their strategy to alleviate the problems of a common man with regard to employment, housing and overall welfare beside the quintessential anti-corruption law.
From Mr Kumar Shastri
Fujairah
Looking forward
First we celebrated after winning the World Expo2020 bid and now we are celebrating the decision that 60 per cent of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 matches will be played in the UAE. It is a great feeling for all the cricket enthusiasts in the UAE. I am sure it will be a great eye-opener especially for youngsters in the UAE. I am looking for the cricket lovers from other Gulf countries to visit UAE during the matches. For now I am just gearing up for this adrenalin rush.
From Mr Prem A. Ramachandran
Dubai
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page.
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