What if rule ignites aggression?
T o all motorists and drivers in the UAE who practice hogging lanes and blocking the left lanes, congratulations (‘Tailgating rule of five metres is not enough’, Gulf News, June 25). You can now indulge in this practice and more importantly, you can do it comfortably while motorists behind you are losing their minds.
The average speed limit on Shaikh Zayed Road is 80km/h and that is on a normal day with little traffic. This is calculated by combining motorists’ driving habits in all eight lanes. The speed limit on Shaikh Zayed Road is 100km/h with an extra 20km/h grace limit.
For people driving long distances, an 80km/h speed average is not enough. I’m not saying speeding and tailgating is okay, it’s not and I don’t support that. In the same way that I don’t support driving slowly and hogging lanes.
These practices in driving are catalysts that ignite aggressive behaviour on the road and cause accidents. They can ruin a motorist’s focus. Now with this new decision, say goodbye to tailgating and hello to zig-zagging and aggressive overtaking. From Mr Mousa UAE Website comment
Sudden speed changes
M any people drive on Shaikh Zayed Road watching the cameras and suddenly reduce their speed in front of the camera.
This sudden change in speed reduces the gap with the vehicles coming from behind at the permissible speed limit.
How will the camera identify such situations as there is no mistake on the part of the vehicle behind? From Mr Sumit Choudhury UAE Website comment
Changing attitudes
I agree with Gulf News readers Mr Mousa and Mr Sumit Choudhury - people need to realise that driving at 100km/h in the fast lane with people driving at 120km/h behind you, you need to move to the second lane.
Yes, the problem of aggressive tailgating may be avoided, but drivers need to change their attitude here.
The point of people not leaving a twosecond gap in this country is so that no one else comes into their lane. There is a reason for their behaviour.
I wonder what the camera will do if someone cuts into their lane on Shaikh Zayed Road right in front of you and the radar. Do you get accused of tailgating? From Mr R. S. B. UAE Full name withheld on request
It’s about time!
F inally! It’s about time the authorities think and re-think the safety measures in place. And wouldn’t it be great if they made the “Back Off Radio” device, that will be in all taxis in Dubai, mandatory for all cars in the UAE? The one mentioned in the news a few months ago sounded like a great way to warn drivers. From Ms louise UAE Website comment
Distinguishing violations
T he rule of five metres is more than enough because of the fact that there are some reckless drivers on the road who try to get into your lane while you are waiting in the traffic queue. After all, radar is a machine. How do you think it will distinguish between the traffic offenders in such a case? In this scenario, definitely the camera will catch your car for not maintaining the safe distance. From Ms Nijas UAE Website comment
Who is responsible?
W hat about any third car that comes suddenly in between two cars keeping a safe distance? In this scenario the Burj radar will catch two cars for a fine — the one that entered the gap, where already two cars were maintaining a safe distance and the second car for whose
Video or photography?
I agree with Gulf News reader Mr Ali. In the given scenario, what will happen if suddenly a car jumps between two cars? Lane changes usually occur abruptly on Dubai roads, so why should the car behind be fined as a tailgating offence? This will surely be their mistake even though they maintained a safe distance. Will Dubai police judge it through video recording or only by photographs? From Mr Azfar UAE Website comment
What’s the minimum speed?
I t is not mentioned at what speed the radar will be triggered. If it’s bumperto-bumper traffic, how will the radar work? If five metres is the distance, at what speed is that five metres coming into play? Is there a minimum speed that will trigger the radar? From Mr Shakir UAE Website comment
Fines for slow drivers
I appreciate the decision to penalise the tailgaters. In the meantime, the authorities should put some fines for the slow drivers who occupy the left-most lane and drive far below the stipulated speed. I encounter nearly 10 such people every day in a 60km span. Some crazy drivers do apply the brakes and reduce their speed further if we flash our headlights. From Mr Manimaran UAE Website comment
Help refugees in the crossfire!
I f there are so many millionaires, then why not use that money to help the Syrians who don’t have food to eat (‘Bahrain has second-highest millionaire density in the world’, Gulf News, June 22)?
Recently, Turkish millionaires have decided to give money to help the Syrians in Turkey and for accommodations as there are more than 23,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey who have fled from northern Syria. From Mr Zeauddin Khan UAE Facebook comment
It’s their right!
I f you have money, then give it away, but don’t tell others what to do with their own money. People have the right to spend it the way they want to. From Ms Fatima Al Khalifa UAE Facebook comment
Finding true evil
I t’s painful to know that the murder of 329 in the Kanishka crash takes 30 years and more to solve (‘Kanishka crash: Gone in an instant’, Gulf News June 23). Despite all the wealth, technology, intelligence and skilled officials, such a case takes 30 years! Some of the criminals responsible might have just lived a normal life and died a normal death. Hatred is ruining the world and people instilled with such hatred are the real evils of our society. From Mr Mosa UAE
Not a mystery!
I wonder why this plane crash is given as a mysterious disappearance. It has been proven that there was a bomb attack on the plane by a group and people have been convicted and jailed in Canada after a lengthy trial. From Mr Chris UAE
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