Is it right to cut the speed limit on motorways?

Readers discuss the speed limit. Other topics: food safety, male teachers, Brussels reactions and Mushrif Park

Readers debate the appropriate speed limits for motorways.

With regard to your report (Plan to cut motorway speed limit in UAE by 10 kph, March 28), this is not a clever solution to the problem of speeding. If everyone is obliged to drive at a minimum of 100 kph that means most people will end up driving faster than this speed. This could result in more accidents, not less.

Instead of going faster, the speed minimum should be lowered so that everyone on the roads can drive safely.

There are people who aren't comfortable racing on the motorway and would like to go a bit slower off to the side so that others can overtake if they so wish.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi

I find these official statements regarding rear-end collisions disturbing. We should maintain a safe distance from whoever is in front of us, it's as simple as that. If you do so, you have time to react to that driver's changes in speed.

Tailgating will still take place no matter what speed anyone else is doing – until that is dealt with, every journey will be dangerous.

Name withheld from request

International best practice allows for 10 per cent over the posted speed limit. This is set because of the inaccuracies in a car, around the speedometer as well as differences in tyre sizes and pressures.

This rule is also proportionate for lower speeds, rather than a blanket 10kph or 20kph over the posted limit.

As well as being a standard across the world, it is also used in other GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. So why not do it in the UAE? Speed is the biggest factor in road deaths and accidents in the UAE.

In addition, having average speed detection will make a bigger difference than reducing the speed limit and the authorities must look at this to save lives.

Paul Glover, Dubai

People on the motorway need to understand that the left lane is primarily an overtaking lane. If you are not overtaking then you should be as far to the right as possible. The first two left lanes should have a minimum 110 kph speed. Other lanes can be 60 kph to allow for slow driving lorries and those people on the roads who don't feel the need to drive fast or stay up with the flow of traffic.

Mary Robinson, Abu Dhabi

Motorways should have no speed limit. People would then focus on driving and not on radars.

Guglielmo Molteni, Italy

More men need to be teachers

I refer to your recent editorial, (Male teachers in short supply, March 29). What we have read last year and also in this article is that many young men would love to be teachers but are ridiculed by their own friends and family for choosing the profession.

This really needs to change. Young men as teachers, professors, educators are more than important, they are necessary for a good balance in schools. After the child's parents, teachers are the most important people in their lives. I hope that more men choose this beautiful profession.

Name withheld by request

Food safety starts with staff

I am very concerned after reading your report about food safety (Poor staff hygiene most common cause of food poisoning at restaurants, March 28). I have long suspected that not enough interest or attention is invested in this area of food safety. Not just in the UAE but around the world.

Simply giving lip service to the dangers of poor staff hygiene can only increase the dangers. The solution is better training for the staff from the beginning of their employment. It also means that staff might need to be vetted more before employment to make sure that they will maintain the highest standards.

Stan Amirhom, Abu Dhabi

How to react to Brussels

With regards to the opinion piece by Khaled Diab (Bombing ISIL will not end extremism in Brussels, March 29), the writer is absolutely correct. It's true. Bombs will not end anything. It's an immediate reaction to a horrific event, but all it will ultimately do is breed more hate. What is needed is education and communication.

Paul Martin, Al Ain

Parks gets a new name

I am happy that Mushrif Central Park will be renamed to honour Sheikha Fatima and her legacy.

John David, Abu Dhabi