Who should bear responsibility for quad bike crash?

A reader discusses the liability in the quad bike case. Other topics: safe cycling, cladding fires, mall taxis and banishing words

A reader urges greater clarity in rules for driving quad bikes in the desert. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

With regard to your news story, Al Ain quad biking horror story a warning to others, unlucky couple say (January 6), I would say it's the rental company's duty rather than the customer's to know the laws concerning its business.

If the rental company operates outside the legal framework, they should face the consequences and not the client.

However, if the laws concerning off-road driving are unclear, I believe the government has to make sure the situation is legally clarified before fining anybody or impounding anything.

Name withheld by request

Cycling can be done safely

With regard to The National's call for cycling safety tips, I think one of the most effective is to walk your bicycle across a pedestrian crossing.

That way, if it becomes necessary, you can drop the bike and jump out of the way of the traffic.

Owen Neale, Abu Dhabi

I think it is important to only cycle on dedicated cycle paths, and so is wearing your helmet and a safety jacket.

Sathish Krish, Abu Dhabi

Wearing a helmet is a must and while returning from work, one should also wear a safety jacket and have lights on one’s bicycle also, to avoid being hit while riding after dark.

Syed Asif, India

Fire safety has to take top priority

As a professional risk manager, I was working in Jumeirah Lakes Towers when a residential tower there caught fire in November 2012. It quickly spread because of its combustible cladding.

The cause was identified as a discarded cigarette that ignited combustible material stored on another floor. Despite this, I've witnessed on several occasions people smoking on balconies and flicking the cigarettes over the side.

I agree that the cladding issue needs to be addressed but if we are going to deal with this matter properly, smoking and barbecues should be strictly prohibited in all towers.

The emphasis should be placed on fire prevention.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

If insurance premiums rise because of the cladding risk, building owners will pass the cost on to the tenants.

The only way to make it fair is to identify every building with flammable cladding, so tenants and customers know which ones to avoid.

Chris Reid, Dubai

Education key to taxi congestion

Your news item, Packed Mushrif Mall taxi rank a headache for drivers (January 4), was a real eye-opener.

I also see this regularly in front of Abu Dhabi Mall but in my view, Mushrif Mall is better placed than the other malls in terms of parking options.

There are two reasons causing this problem at Mushrif Mall. One is the lack of training and education for taxi drivers to not block traffic.

Even if they know that there is no space for them, they will often still squeeze in, ending up either blocking other vehicles entering the mall parking area or even creating the dangerous situation of placing them in the path of the speeding vehicles on the road.

If the taxi companies won't train their drivers, the mall authorities should have security staff controlling the area.

The second and most important point is the lack of patience by all drivers. When a vehicle – whether it is a taxi or a private car – is trying to park, the drivers behind express their impatience rather than giving them a little bit of time.

We need to develop a culture of patience and harmony.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

Many times I want to use this main entrance to the mall and find it blocked by taxis. When I ask them why they block the entrance, they usually say: “Sorry, I didn't see.”

The solution is to either educate these taxi drivers or replace them.

Sultan Alhay, Abu Dhabi

I wonder why this taxi rank’s very poor design isn't even raised as an issue?

Andrew Purker, Dubai

So, about words we love to hate

Your editorial (I'm so over that word, January 6) asks which terms we'd like to see banished. I'd start with "Do the needful".

Jamie Goodwin, Dubai

Needful is not the correct word, it's needed. And let's ban other -ful words like mindful.

Rachida Djebel, Dubai