It's time for explanations about petrol shortage

Readers also express themselves on topics including speeding and other causes of accidents, the trade in exotic animals and India's response to Baba Ramdev's hunger strike. Also: the record is set straight about HMS Bounty.

A reader urges for a clarification about the widespread closures of petrol stations. Charles Crowell / The National

In response to the letter to the editor Suggestion to lower fatalities (June 6), I would like to highlight the mistaken popular perception that many accidents on the road should be blamed entirely on speeding.

I have been driving on the UAE's roads for the past two years and have seen numerous accidents caused by a certain kind of driver behaviour that I think is the main cause of most accidents. On all roads, drivers should know that the outer left lane is used for over-taking and for vehicles going at higher speed, regardless whether it's a two, three or four-lane road. Many drivers tend to ignore this and hog the outer left lane driving below the speed limit: vans, lorries, school buses, cars etc. In many cases, accidents happen when slow vehicles are passed.

Also in many countries, the inner right lanes are for slow-moving commercial and heavy vehicles. These vehicles are limited to travel at 60kmh as they are not designed to travel at high speeds, especially with loads on. Drivers are fined if caught traveling in lanes not designated for them.

Here in the UAE, there is no such restriction. These vehicles drive at high speeds and in the left lane, competing with other vehicles on the road.

Ray Toh, Dubai

Reactions to Indian crackdown

In reference to the news article India's outrage over graft (June 7), the post-midnight crackdown on the peaceful protest congregation of the followers of Baba Ramdev was very unfortunate and could have been avoided.

The people had come to show their support for Baba Ramdev's campaign to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks and get it declared as national assets.

In the world's largest democracy, the action by the Delhi police and the forcible eviction of Baba Ramdev shows the scant regard that the government has for democracy and for the peaceful expression of anger against corruption.

At first, the government seemed to be showing very high regard for Baba Ramdev by sending four senior ministers to the airport to persuade him to call off his proposed fast.

Then it acted in such a barbaric manner that no one had expected.

The Supreme Court of India has rightly taken suo motto cognisanceof the incident and the government will most likely be censured for its action.

Muneer Ahmad, Abu Dhabi

This is with reference to the agitation in Delhi.

The recent peaceful protest by the Baba Ramdev and his followers and the brutal action taken by the Indian government was highly unacceptable in a democratic country like India.

I don't belong to any political party, but as an ordinary man I strongly condemn this brutal act by the government.

I have no doubt that the government is counting its days.

In a country following the great Mahatma Gandhi's principles, acting like a dictator is unacceptable.

K Ragavan, India

The source of the wild animal trade

In reference to the article They are not your pets (June 4), the trade in exotic or endangered animals is and has always been about money and the expression of those who have wealth. The wealthy should find better ways to express their wealth like funding programmes to help those less fortunate.

I know that's an old socialist plank but think about it for one moment. There is enough wealth in this world for there to be no material poverty. But the spiritual poverty of those who believe in class distinctions spreads this mental disease of elitism to the whole of mankind.

Anthony Robinson, Abu Dhabi

Identifying the right pirate

In his sports column Fifa ship in choppy waters (June 4), Will Batchelor writes: "This gladness in my heart is how Fletcher Christian must have felt when he defeated Captain William Bligh, that salty cur who tried to steal the Bounty."

You got your story terribly mixed up. It's totally the other-way-around.

Fletcher Christian is the one who stole the ship. William Bligh was the captain of the Bounty. Not the pirate Fletcher Christian and his goony crew of misfits.

David Townsend, a descendant of the Bounty's surgeon and loyalist Thomas Ledward, UK

Come clean about the fuel shortage

I refer to Empty filling stations and the great fuel mystery (June 7). Why is no one coming clean about the fuel shortages ? I am afraid to say that the whole episode is entirely symptomatic of not wanting to lose face by admitting a problem. It's best to admit there's an issue with supplies rather than try to fool the public.

MA Ali, Abu Dhabi