In reference to Ayesha Almazroui 's column, There may be another reason for the UAE's bad driving (February 9), I think speed is the main factor in road deaths not Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The roads have turned into Formula One race tracks. When one driver starts speeding, another one does the same, and it goes on and on.
Drivers who try to abide by the speed limits are harassed by other road users. Angry and reckless drivers expect you to get out of their way so that they can break the law. If you don’t change lanes immediately, they will keep flashing their headlights and honking their horns. It is unbelievable.
The only time we see these drivers slow down is when they brake heavily to avoid being caught on a speed camera – and then they speed up again.
We must have stricter policing. Repeat offenders should face losing their licences, confiscation of their car or, in some cases, jail terms. Until this is done, we will continue to lose family members, friends and work mates through road fatalities.
M Litty, Dubai
It’s not ADHD that causes road accidents. If that were the case, driving would not be worse here than elsewhere in the world. Education is the key.
Jen Bishop, Dubai
The problem is that many offences don’t carry black points, just a fine that you can pay and then keep driving.
If they were in Australia, for example, the typical UAE driver would lose his or her licence very quickly.
In Australia, you get 12 points per year. You can lose three points for a range of offences, including not indicating when turning, talking on a mobile phone, turning from the wrong lane at a roundabout and tailgating. Speeding carries a penalty of three to 12 points depending on the speed.
A similar system in the UAE would definitely see a drop in the number of road accidents.
Yannis Paravalos, Dubai
We should not give people excuses to justify their bad driving.
Emma Brain, Dubai
I was pleased to read Anna Seaman's article, Observing Life: To wear the hijab is a matter of choice, not scrutiny (February 9).
Wearing the hijab is a personal decision. If there are many who find it strange, there are many more who respect that decision and thank the wearer for presenting a very good and correct picture of Islam.
We need more Muslims to demonstrate how modernity and Islam are not antithetical and that extremist behaviour does not represent this great faith.
Name withheld by request
What is confusing to many western people is that if you look at movies from the 1950s, women in Egypt and some other Middle Eastern countries did not wear the hijab.
Diane Nobles, Abu Dhabi
Girl’s death must serve as a lesson
I refer to Court jails three over death on school bus (February 9).
The damage is done and nothing can fill the gap or bring the child back. However, the court’s decision should serve as a lesson for all schools.
They must hire trained and qualified staff who are capable of understanding and carrying out their duties.
Umer Munir, Sharjah
The Dh150,000 fine for the school was not enough. Even Dh 1 million would not be enough.
K Ramos Neyubuiq, Abu Dhabi
Food is better than weapons
US arms arrive in Beirut as date is set for Saudi-French deliveries (February 9) was disturbing.
All of these weapons have just one purpose: to keep killing other humans.
Why don’t the Americans provide other aid instead, such as food, shelter, health care and education?
D Lawrence, South Korea
Some prefer to tell the truth
Speak for yourself, Justin Thomas (The truth is that we're all becoming pathological liars, February 8).
I always do my very best to tell the truth; I just do not lie.
As John Lennon said: “Being honest may not get you many friends but it’ll always get you the right ones.”
There are honourable and good people around who refuse to be drawn into any sort of lying.
If not being honest becomes accepted, our world will be a very sad place.
Name withheld by request