I don't blame the acting principal of a school near a corner where a boy was recently killed for being concerned for his students (Safety plea after boy, 9, dies at killer junction, March 19). School officials should be doing that.
But putting an overpass or underpass right at a corner where there is already a traffic signal is simply not a reasonable solution. In this case, there weren't even any pedestrians involved; this was a two-car crash.
From your story and other accounts I understand that the killed 9-year-old was thrown from his car, and that an infant in the other car had a broken leg.
So: were seat belts being worn? If not, why not? Would they have prevented this tragedy?
Carl Copeland, Abu Dhabi
A pedestrian overpass would be helpful. But so would a speed camera. Reducing the camera tolerance of speeds above the posted limit to 10 per cent nationwide would be a solution.
Aaron Smith, Abu Dhabi
The death of a little boy at a busy corner, and the comments of the people who live or work nearby, make me wonder if this corner is more dangerous than others with the same traffic density.
If so, then the signals there need to be improved, or the speed limit should be better enforced, or both, or else something else is wrong at that location.
Although I rarely go to that part of town, I hate to think that more accidents are waiting to happen.
Delphine White, Abu Dhabi
iPad is a triumph of marketing
Some people in the UAE are evidently willing to pay vastly inflated prices to be the first to get the new model of iPad (Pay twice the price and an iPad is yours, March 19).
Of course, other people are cheerfully ready to collect big profits.
Considering that three short years ago an iPad was only a rumour, this is a true triumph of marketing.
But you have to wonder about the people who are so eager to pay double the already-high real price. As our machines get smarter, some of us seem to get dumber.
Fred Wynn, UK
Groupon clients need patience
Groupon's chief goes amid more complaints (March 19) is hardly a surprise.
Add me to the list of dissatisfied customers. But at last I seem to have got to someone capable of handling the problem.
I ordered four cameras in November, and last week I finally received two of them. I have to wait for the other two because they didn't have the colours I ordered.
Call me picky but after waiting nearly four months, I can wait a week or two more to get what I want, instead of making it easy on them by settling for what's available now.
The person I spoke to placed the blame firmly on the logistics companies they have dealt with.
Donald Glass, Abu Dhabi
Pay for your unit only after it's built
I refer to Dubai buyers battle Dubai Sports City builders (January 20).
A developer should be able to fund his construction. This kind of reliance on investors' money happens too often in Dubai. Elsewhere in the world, you put 5 or 10 per cent down and pay the rest when the developer delivers the unit.
This gives them more incentive to finish the job, and assures the investor of a better quality product, because you don't have to pay until you've seen it.
Alan Godfrey, Dubai
A tricky decision for Mauritania
I agree with your editorial (Libyan justice for Senoussi relies on fair proceedings, March 19) that Muammar Qaddafi's intelligence chief Abdullah Al Senoussi should be delivered to Libya.
However, I fully understand the concerns of governmental and non-governmental organisations that he could be killed at the hands of the regime's victims if that happens.
Mauritania's decision will be politically and legally difficult.
Gaye Caglayan, Dubai
Oman has to get along with all
Sultan Qaboos of Oman is closely involved in trying to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe (Oman urges peace talks as tensions rise over Iran's nuclear ambitions, March 19).
Oman seems to enjoy cordial relations with both Iran and western countries.
The long-term security and prosperity of Oman depend on the maintenance of normal relations in both directions.
Having a pragmatic peacemaker in the region is certainly good for hikers, British sailors, French aid workers and any others who get in trouble in the region.
Dilara Akay, Turkey
