Child safety seats should be required by law

Readers call for a law requiring the use of child safety seats. Other topics: vertical garden, Philippine election, Dubai buildings

Readers call for a law requiring the use of child safety seats. Delores Johnson / The National

Parents who drive with children without age-appropriate seats and belts should be prosecuted (Child seats avert 'deadly mistake', May 15). Children are defenceless, so it's the duty of parents to ensure their safety.

Wiltrud Matthes, Dubai

In developed counties child seats are required by law. They prevent death and injury.

When I first arrived in this country, I was blown away by the way some parents drove with their newborns in their laps and allowed children to stick their heads out of the sunroofs.

John Paravalos, Dubai

If you bring a child into this world then it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to keep that little human as safe as possible. Car seats and seat belts should be mandatory. Especially because driving practices here are questionable.

Caroline Blacklock, Dubai

One of the benefits of child seats people never think about is that they prevent the child from moving around inside the car and interfering with the driver. Not to mention being unable to touch and fight with their siblings.

Owen Neale, Iraq

Some tips on vertical garden

Your video on vertical gardens was interesting. However, caring for succulent plants can be tricky. Under- and over-watering are both likely to cause problems for these plants.

Requirements vary between species so it’s best to check online for the best approach for the plants you buy. For the ones shown in the video, you should water about once a week. Take down the frame and lay it flat to do so. Aim to have the soil moist, not over-wet, and the plants should be all right. Also buy soil mix appropriate for succulents.

Melanie Hunt, Dubai

Can Duterte fulfil promise?

Whether Rodrigo Duterte is really a man of action or his highly charged words were just meant to woo voters, only time will tell (Duterte claims Philippine presidency, vows crime crackdown, May 11). During the campaign, he made some astonishing claims that in the first three to six months of office he is going to solve major problems, like crime and corruption. Is the job that easy? Do Filipinos really believe what he says, so that they endorsed his candidacy in overwhelming numbers? I am baffled.

Whether Mr Duterte produces any result or not, he certainly knew the winning strategy: making a lot of noise about his radical viewpoint. These days, this seems to be appealing to the masses. Why would so many Americans otherwise cheer for Donald Trump? The power of reasoning seems to be taking a back seat everywhere in the world.

Name withheld by request

I agree with your story Duterte will not make any difference to the daily life of ordinary citizens (May 11). Corruption in society is so deeply entrenched in the country’s system that it is next to impossible for any elected representative to root it out within a stipulated span of time. Corruption is the root cause of all other problems in the Philippines.

Abuyen Cruz, Philippines

Very little is known about Mr Duterte’s likely approach as president of the Philippines. I am sure things will be clearer by the end of this year, but for the time being the Philippines is entering a period of high uncertainty.

Edwaard Matabang, Dubai

Good news for everyone

The five-star ratings initiative is great news (Dubai buildings to be given star ratings, May 13). I hope to see it being applied to the highest standards possible because landlords need to have confidence that their investment is safe while tenants need peace of mind.

Benazir Khan, Dubai

I hope this ranking will not end up being used as another argument by landlords to secure higher rents.

Name withheld by request