Vehicle insurers should reward the good drivers

Readers write about car insurance, driver eduction, islands and the laptop ban

Readers say insurance companies should give incentives to safe drivers. Reem Mohammed / The National
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In reference to UAE car insurance market overhauled (March 25), I would like to suggest the introduction of a practice that is common in Europe: insurance companies rewarding the good and safe drivers.

I am from Portugal, and I have been living and driving in UAE for 15 years, without a single motor vehicle accident or a single scratch on any of the three cars I have had in that time.

Yet almost every year there is an increase in my insurance premium, and it seems that I pay the same as a driver who has frequent accidents.

This is very unfair, as I have never cost the insurance company a single dirham. This is because I always drive defensively – a skill that is missing in most drivers.

My suggestion is to implement an incentive system, where drivers who have gone five, 10, 15 or more years without an accident are rewarded with a reduction in their insurance premiums. If they have an accident, this benefit would be lost.

This could be a good incentive, as drivers would be more careful in order not to lose their benefit.

I’d also like to see the introduction of an annual award for safe drivers. This could be an incentive for young people to drive better.

Antonop Abreu, Dubai

My insurance doubled over night. I’ve never had an accident in 22 years here. So much for rewarding safe drivers.

Tanya Milbourne, Dubai

Bad habits cause accidents. Distractions while driving – from mobile phones to children jumping around in the car – plus tailgating and other poor driving, cause accidents.

Just because drivers have to pay more insurance isn’t going to stop these bad habits.

J Lewis, Dubai

Driver training a must for youth

Your tragic story, Emirati twins, teen killed in Sharjah car accident (March 25), tells us that every driver should be trained how to drive during any kind of weather. The way many people drive is very dangerous. Children should be taught at schools about the importance of safe driving.

I feel sorry for the family of the young people.

Eva GR, Dubai

This was a tragedy that could so easily have been avoided. Should a 20-year-old have been behind the wheel of a powerful car? Of course not.

Should there be police patrols, random stops and compulsory visits to trauma wards for people caught speeding? Of course there should.

This is relatively simple but it does take somebody to go ahead and do it, instead of just fining drivers by remote control through speed cameras.

Name withheld by request

A reason to fly via Canada

I have a solution for Abu Dhabi residents caught up in the situation described in Electronic device ban on US flights begins (March 26).

Fly to the United States via Toronto and keep your laptops, iPads and so on with you in the cabin.

Toronto services all the same final US destinations as American airports.

Neil Abrahams, Canada

Can islands be opened up?

As a keen sailor, fisherman and snorkeller, I was extremely sad to discover that almost all the beautiful islands surrounding Abu Dhabi are out of bounds to the general public – for no obvious reason.

Visitors to Massnoua, Samaliyah, Hudayriat and Futaisi islands are chased away. Perhaps these islands are going to be developed. If not, it would be great if the general public could enjoy access to them.

Donald Waters, Abu Dhabi

An unfortunate series of events

Donald Trump is the biggest – bigglyest? – embarrassment to the United States to date (Trump turns to tax after Obamacare debacle, March 26).

He failed by rushing through his healthcare bill, failed with his Muslim bans and failed us by banning electronic devices in cabins on inward flights to the US. He also has Americans paying to have his wife living somewhere out of the way.

The only think he hasn’t failed in is having the American taxpayers pay for all his weekend golfing jaunts.

Phil Jones, Dubai

Donald Trump failed to sell a Republican plan to a Republican Congress. What a deal­maker. Sad.

P Martin, Al Ain