Reader blames speed for recent pile-up in the fog

Readers respond about road safety issues, learning Arabic and the Saudi ban on maids.

Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni celebrate India's victory in the Cricket World Cup final. A reader applauds team captain MS Dhoni's entrance into the pantheon of cricket history. Matthew Lewis / Getty IShow more

In the front page story about the April 2 mega pile-up in the fog on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi motorway, 'Crash loomed in front of me' (April 5) an injured driver says that he was not driving fast, travelling at 100kph.

How is this not fast in foggy conditions? When the highway is wet or foggy, 100kph is an excessive speed and obviously in this case led to the collision he suffered.

Bruce Dauphin, Abu Dhabi

Procedures to stop exploitation

I refer to the news article Saudi maids ban 'may cause ripples' (April 5). Walden Bello, a member of the Akbayan party at the Philippine congress, said: "If we are to live up to the revised Migrant Workers Act, the ban should have begun from the Philippines' side and not from Saudi Arabia."

Every foreign government should fix the minimum wage for all categories of workers including for graduates, post graduates and specialists along with perks and bonuses. They should refuse to allow immigration unless there is a firm contract registered by the GCC with the expatriate's embassy before he leaves his home country. Only such moves will reduce exploitation.

Dr KB Vijayakumar, Dubai

Success in teaching Arabic

With reference to the article Chicago pupils embrace Arabic class (April 3), I agree that learning Arabic is a popular decision the world over. Here in the UAE, it is such a melting pot of cultures. However, the desire to learn Arabic is strong.

I work for the Arabic Language Centre, which has been teaching Arabic for over 30 years. We have a mix of students studying Arabic: those learning for pleasure to converse with Arabic-speaking friends, family and colleagues and those studying for business to further develop their careers. As hinted in the article, Arabic is considered a difficult language to learn. However, at the Arabic Language Centre, we have a unique way of teaching which makes it easy and fun.

Jenny Hunt, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Arabic Language Centre, Dubai

Measures needed for E-66 highway

The news article Expansion work to improve E-66 safety (April 3) reported that the dangerous Dubai-Al Ain highway will be expanded to four lanes in each direction.

An education programme, a promotion campaign and signage ought to be put in place to teach slow-moving vehicles to move to slower lanes on the right as is done in other developed nations.

Quite often cars travel at 80km/h next to the fast lane, while lanes on their right are empty. That forces faster-moving traffic to pass into the fast lane to overtake or unfortunately pass them illegally on the right.

Walter Cramerstetter, Dubai

Complaint about noisy jet skis

We would like to raise the problem of far too much noise from jet skies which operate in Abu Dhabi around the Corniche and Rotana Palace Khalidiya.

The noise is terrible and goes on for hours. The jet skies are without mufflers. We love living in Abu Dhabi and try to be very good residents, taking care of the environment and so forth, but in the last month, suffering the deafening noises has made us want to pack up our bags and leave.

Bryon McFarlain, Abu Dhabi

The booming success of Ikea

The article Ikea and and UAE: a love affair that needed room to grow (March 25) reported on a mammoth new Ikea branch on Yas Island to replace the one in Marina Mall.

The article was true about the popularity of Ikea budget furniture, and Ikea's tremendous growth. Perhaps the main reasons for growth are the quality of furniture and economical prices.

K Ragavan, India

Tragedy of a child's death

I refer to Doctors ruled liable for death of girl, 7 (April 4). This is obviously a tragedy that I am sure most of us cannot fathom.

The loss of a child to a parent must be the most difficult experience anyone can go through.

Eric Sandler, Abu Dhabi

MS Dhoni is next great cricketer

I refer to the sports article A whole new world awaits for a nation (April 4) which described the scenes of jubilation in India after the victory in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni can now rightfully take the mantle from Sachin Tendulkar as India's next great cricketer to enter the pantheon of cricket history.

Vaish W, Malaysia