In reference to the front page news article Speeding cars to be impounded on the spot (November 2), it is great news that as part of the campaign, officers from the traffic police department signed an undertaking to reach a zero death rate per 100,000 people by 2020.
The Roads and Transport Authority, insurance staff, doctors and trauma care staff, judges of the Dubai traffic prosecution court, bank staff who provide car loans and automobile agencies should also sign on to such an undertaking as soon as possible and take concrete actions.
Improving road safety is everybody's responsibility. Only safer cars should be on safer roads to be operated by safer drivers in a safer travel environment.
Sumi Tiwari, Dubai
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Very good, but speeding isn't the only offence being committed. What about lane straddling? Switching lanes without proper indication or consideration to others? Those are equally dangerous and cause accidents.
I bet half the police force don't know what lane straddling is because they're also amongst the worst offenders.
Ziad Q, Dubai
Advantages of low speed limits
Unfortunately, the view of Omar H in his letter to the editor Very low speed limits not helpful (November 2) is all too common, but fundamentally selfish: "I want to travel at speed to my destination." Never mind the impact (metaphorically and sometimes literally) on others.
The World Health Organisation says that urban speed limits should be a maximum of 50kph, for safety reasons.
In addition, slower speeds mean there is more capacity on the road since vehicles travel closer together at lower speeds. So you can physically fit in more cars. In fact, where there is congestion can actually mean you get to your destination faster, more relaxed and more reliably, with less stop -and- start and less pollution.
And, in the event that you are in a collision, you and others are less likely to die.
Ford Desmoineaux, Abu Dhabi
Zero tolerance for drinking drivers
The article Train driver drank alcohol before crash (October 20) was reported in the context of a train crash in India that killed 70. It appears, like many Indian truck drivers, a good number of train drivers are in the habit of taking alcohol while on duty. It is an extremely dangerous practice and should be dealt with by zero tolerance.
I am sure that many railway officers working closely with the drivers operating at night know of this practice. If such cases are deeply and fairly investigated, Indians would be in for possibly more surprises and some shocks.
Sami Ahmed, India
Sensitivity is a two-way street
I was totally fascinated by the opinion article of Sultan Al Qassemi A monument of tolerance in the heart of Dubai (October 31). I am a Dubai resident for the last two years and I am an architect as you may have guessed with my fascination with his article about the planning for the Ismaili Centre of Dubai.
He mentioned "the spirit of tolerance and respect embodied by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid".
I regret to say that this tolerance and respect is mostly misunderstood by foreigners in their ways of dress and behaviour. I worked and lived in major European cities and I have never seen as many irresponsible tourists and expatriates as I saw in UAE.
All foreigners, more attention please.
Gaye Caglayan, Abu Dhabi
Harping on a single issue
I refer to James Zogby's opinion article I was shocked by this poll on US attitudes towards Arabs (October 31). Week after week he uses hateful words ("Islamophobes", "old-fashioned xenophobes") and always in the same sentence with Republicans, conservatives, talk-radio, Fox News, Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly.
What Mr Zogby dismisses is that there is a vast country wedged in between California and New York whose inhabitants don't appreciate elitists, pundits and bureaucrats calling them names. In terms of polls, the three most important issues in the US are jobs, the economy and national security.
Nicholas York, Abu Dhabi
Monaco for the middle class
I refer to the front page business article Wealthy Emiratis to unlock Monaco (November 2). Monaco has been overcrowded during the last summers. Well, that doesn't attract the high quality elite, I would say - and it's a pity because the city has a special flair and wonderful hotels.
Angelika Lancsak, UK
