Difference between life and death
think this is a really good initiative taken by the Ministry of Interior (“Ministry announces tough new traffic rules, penalties”, Gulf News, March 23). We have all heard the excuses before: “The seat belt is uncomfortable, I’m only going around the corner”, or “I’d rather be thrown out of a car than be stuck in a seat belt”, and my favourite, “I’m a good driver, I don’t need to wear one”. Well, you may be a good driver, but there are situations beyond your control, such as bad weather, road conditions and not to mention other drivers, that can affect your safety. Seat belts can mean the difference between life and death in an automobile accident. Wearing a seat belt every time you enter a vehicle is not only the smart thing to do, it is the right thing — because it saves lives, it is the law and it will save you money. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for people under the age of 35, according to US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Wearing a seat belt can prevent death in about half of these accidents. I am really glad that the ministry has announced these new rules, which will reduce the number of accidents. From Ms Megna Rajagopal Dubai
Baffling behaviour
T here is a penalty of Dh200 when you are driving with xenon lights, which are very bright and distracting to others on the road. But I see a lot of vehicles cruising on the road with their xenon lights on, for no reason. These are too bright and can be a hazard when driving. Also, the authorities could provide more solutions to deal with traffic congestion. We often come across traffic, but it just appears and disappears for no reason! Motorists recklessly change lanes and do not mind the gaps in between vehicles. Heavy industrial trucks drive very fast in some communities where many construction projects are going on. Maybe we could have some road campaigns on safety when driving. From Mr Doniyor Shakirov UAE
Children in danger
I hope the authorities start to crack down soon. I have seen so many little children standing on the front seat in cars. Once, I saw up to three children in the front seat!
Also, the other day, a motorist nearly hit my car on a roundabout, because he was on his phone. He went across all three lanes and then back to the inside lane again. From Mr Paul Kinnock Al Ain
Not convinced
T he reason cited for a ban on electronics aboard airlines from Middle Eastern airports is inconsistent with common logic. This ban causes great inconvenience to passengers on longdistance flights operating from the region, apart from reducing the scope of entertainment to a great extent for both children and adults alike. This is an optimum performance hurdle for Gulf carriers, who always give much importance to passengers’ leisure and entertainment, and a substantial portion of their profits are generated from the European Union and US sectors. The gadgets’ ban happened at a time when these Gulf carriers are facing multiple challenges, such as a drop in revenue and state subsidy allegations. I think this is a step aimed at making Gulf carriers less attractive to passengers. More countries are likely to announce similar restrictions in coming days, as the level of security threat increases day by day. From Mr Girish R. Edathitta Dubai
Critical issue
S ince the UAE is a tax-free zone for businesses, the nation has attracted so many investors to Dubai (“Ministry of Finance sets minimum turnover requirement for VAT registration”, Gulf News, March 22). This decision of implementing the value-added tax (VAT) might affect trade and commerce to a certain extent. From Mr Chaithanya Purushottama Dubai Facebook comment
The allure of gold
N o (“VAT on gold jewellery won’t deter buying, says retailer”, Gulf News, March 26). While the UAE is known as a gold hotspot, a number of expatriates and tourists are buying more gold for investment. Regardless of the price, they buy jewellery for various events and occasions. In addition, the quality of gold in the Middle East countries is better in terms of standards and purity. From Mr Farooq Gohar UAE
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