How to make our roads safer

Readers give useful tips on decluttering. Other topics: pedestrian safety, illegal housing, Hillary Clinton, schooling in the UK

Readers offer their suggestions to make our cities more pedestrian friendly. Delores Johnson / The National

This refers to your question on Facebook: What is the best way to promote pedestrian safety in Abu Dhabi (Road to safety, March 27)?

I think billboards should be put up everywhere explaining that people need to stop, look and listen.

And how about driving instructors teaching learner drivers to stop at crossings and give way to pedestrians?

Vicki Attoe, Dubai

One way to ensure safety of pedestrians is to build humps before zebra crossings.

Name withheld by request

I would like to draw the attention of the authorities particularly to the Taawun area in Sharjah, where it’s hard to cross the road as the only roundabout there has no signal.

Even though it’s a busy area, there is no pedestrian crossing close to Sharjah Expo Centre. This causes a lot of inconvenience to the residents of the area.

George, Sharjah

The better decluttering method

In reference to the story 20 items that UAE residents should declutter now (March 27), I would urge them to post those items on Facebook. After all, one person's rubbish is another person's treasure.

Kight Pruszynski, Dubai

We waste things all the time without realising that another person may be needing them. A little awareness on our part will go a long way in helping the poor and the needy.

Zoya Rasheed, Dubai

Illegal housing needs attention

The issue of illegal housing needs more attention (Abu Dhabi Municipality issued 759 penalties for illegal housing in 2016, March 26). At the area near the World Trade Centre mall, where I live, there are many buildings that are in a very poor condition.

These buildings are occupied by workers. It’s a matter of concern for other people living in the area as these workers often sit on couches on the roadside and talk loudly at night.

Kris Echeverria, Abu Dhabi

Clinton is not the right person

It would indeed be a great achievement to see a woman as president of the United States; a strong but compassionate woman, who could ensure that America would be a force for peace in the world and a creator of a strong economy at home.

Instead, we have a presidential candidate who is prepared to instigate conflict.

Hillary Clinton recommended the break-up of Syria and the destabilisation of Libya that made it a failed state, which now threatens the entire Middle East. She would turn Israel into an aggressive armed fortress.

Is this what America and the international community want for themselves and their children?

At one time, the Democratic Party of America was a party of peace – a strongly principled coalition that believed implicitly in human and civil rights, both at home and abroad. That belief sadly has temporarily been suspended.

A female president of the United States would be an amazing achievement both for gender equality and human rights and, of course, for America. But Mrs Clinton would be a terrible choice.

Anthony Bellchamers, UK

State schools in UK are great

There is no doubt that it is far more easy to find expensive schools for rich pupils than it is to find one affordable school for middle class children (British boarding schools look to UAE to fill places, March 27).

I always thought that education was a civil right for children, but it seems to be otherwise.

Kéra Mel, UK

Isn’t the point of having children that you bring them up as parents yourself? Living away from home, missing your parents must have a negative effect on the children. And the parents, do they not miss their children?

Casper Morgenstern, Dubai