It’s possible for us to change driving habits

We must be disciplined if we want to change the driving culture, a reader says. Other topics: child protection, health insurance

We must be disciplined if we want to change the driving culture, a reader says. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

For our part as individuals, we have to ensure that we don't break the law (Just because you can speed, doesn't mean you should, May 20). If all of us uphold that attitude as individuals, things will change. That's how things work in countries like the UK from what I saw. People comply with the law out of self-discipline and not because there is a speed camera installed every kilometre on the road.

The issue is that the training for this should start from childhood. As the saying goes, old habits die hard.

Febin Christopher, Dubai

The question is: how do you change the attitude of people driving over the speed limit in the left lane?

Nada Kumbarji, Dubai

Get serious on child abuse

In reference to your story Reporting child abuse in UAE is a responsibility for all (May 19), I'd read somewhere else that individuals reporting acts of child abuse need to provide the mobile number of the abuser. If this is the case, the procedure needs to be changed.

Janet Cox, Abu Dhabi

Parents who abuse their children should be jailed and the child should be removed from the family. Abuse affects the development of a child and leaves a permanent psychological scar on them.

I support strict rules on child abuse and I hope the authorities enforce.

Aouse K Al Anee, Abu Dhabi

Fix health insurance plans

In reference to the news report 'Significant number' of companies to downgrade healthcare cover for staff (May 18), I would like to ask why expatriates are being penalised through no fault of their own.

If the healthcare system here is so open to abuse, why not challenge that first?

We, expatriates, are now faced with so much loss of income in the form of extra taxes, rental tax, reduction in assistance with school fees and now this is thrown at us.

Personally, I consider dental and optical care to be a necessity, not a luxury as was stated in the article. I am not looking for gold fillings or a full set of veneers. A reasonable allowance towards the cost of maintaining dental and optical care will not break the bank.

If doctors are so intent on bankrupting us all, I would again say – make them accountable, do not give them commission, let us question their integrity, or in the case of a minority, their lack of it.

And for those who now have major illnesses – it may be that they have come to the end of their useful time here. A healthy workforce is sustainable, an unhealthy one is not.

Name withheld by request

Last year I had a recurring ear infection from swimming pool water (Dubai's hospitals face battle to survive amidst 'abuse of system', May 19).

I needed to get rid of it before I started using earplugs, something I have not needed to wear before.

The pharmacy I usually get drops from had run out and they suggested I go to the hospital where the dispensary would have them.

The doctor insisted I needed a blood test. I refused because I knew the hospital would be able to charge the insurance company a whole lot more if the test was done. They were far from happy but, armed with the drops, the inflection was gone in two days and has not returned.

As a result of this experience, I now go to a pharmacy for coughs, colds and general maladies. I think it is time hospitals were left for the truly sick and injured.

While people turn up for minor ailments hospitals will dispense antibiotics and medicines one can often pick up in the supermarket for everything and find ways to extract unnecessary expense from insurance companies.

Judith Finnemore, Al Ain