I refer to Popular Sharjah playground closes over safety fears (March 23), about the closure of the Bank Street park in Sharjah.
It is good that the parents and authorities have mutually consented to close a playground that was unsafe for the children.
We cannot expect children to cross the roads carefully and attentively, which is why there were increased chances of accidents in this area.
I am extremely glad with the decision and hope to see a better, safer playing area for children.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Considering how much money is being spent on construction, the government should make it mandatory for all residential buildings in the UAE to have play areas and parks for children.
Priya Mani, Dubai
Speed is not the main traffic issue
Lowering the speed limit will only create more traffic jams (Right to life beats the need to speed, March 24).
The maximum limits of 80kph in the city and 140kph on the motorway should be left in place.
The root cause of accidents is driver behaviour. Emphasis should be placed on following traffic rules such as lane discipline, indicating, safe-distance driving, wearing seat belts, not overloading the vehicle and so on.
I also think that driving too slow on the motorway should be a traffic violation. Increasing police patrols will also be of benefit.
Zibebi, Dubai
Some motorists in the UAE need to be reminded about the dos and don’ts of driving.
No matter how carefully one drives, it appears that some other people just don’t care.
Some drivers don't even use indicators when turning or changing lanes, let alone observe the speed limit. Rhowela Capitle, Abu Dhabi
We are focusing on the wrong thing here. While speed may be an issue, recklessness is the bigger issue that needs to be addressed.
Reducing or increasing the speed-limit buffer by 10kph is not going to make a difference to a car travelling at 120 kph or 140kph. The real issues include the sudden turns and lack of indication by some drivers, and cars blocking overtaking lanes.
Ana Ismi Emarati, Dubai
Americans have the most to lose
In reference to your editorial, Travel ban unearths a Kremlin rap fan (March 18), you ask: what would you miss if you were banned from the US?
My answer is: absolutely nothing. The question should read: what would the US miss if it were banned from the world? Haifa Joomah, South Africa
Attack on jet could be a political tactic
I am writing about your front-page story, Tensions rise after Turkey shoots down Syrian war jet (March 24).
It would be no surprise if prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had ordered the Syrian jet to be downed, as it is only a week before municipal elections that are widely seen as a referendum on his rule.
After failing to bully Israel and to adequately deal with allegations against his family and his government, Mr Erdogan is obviously trying to score some cheap points against Syria,
Both Syria and Turkey need to rid themselves of their leaders to end their governments’ aggression.
Ali Budak, Dubai
Israel won’t accept a Palestinian state
Ben White's article, Israel fears the 'apartheid' label as it reveals its gruesome tactics (March 22) raises some interesting points.
Israel defines itself as a “Jewish state” and will never accept a non-apartheid democracy with a Jewish minority.
Continuing illegal annexations, settlement expansion and ethnic cleansing have precluded any negotiated two-state solution.
Israel must be forced to recognise a Palestininian state with externally enforced autonomy, free of Jewish settlers and with true contiguity encompassing Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
After that is achieved, American foreign policy can again serve American interests, not Israel’s pursuit of invulnerability and territorial conquest. John W, US
Others may follow Turkish Twitter ban
Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's move to ban Twitter was a dramatic development (After Twitter, is Turkey's government blocking Google?, March 22).
Most analysts have condemned this move, but I'm sure it will be watched closely by politicians in some other nations that want to curtail freedom of speech. K Ragavan, US
