HSE
Car flips over in Dubai crash – My Letters – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 21.09.2010
My Letters – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 21.09.2010 – Car flips over in Dubai crash
Car flips over in Dubai crash
DUBAI // Four vehicles, including a taxi, collided on Sheikh Zayed Road this morning.
The incident occurred in the Abu Dhabi-bound fast lane, near the Internet City exit. One of the vehicles was flipped onto its roof in the crash.
The accident, which occurred at 8am, caused congestion to Oasis Centre in the Al Quoz area.
Police cleared the wreckage from the scene and traffic was free-flowing by 10am. No serious injuries were reported, according to Dubai Police.
My comments as follows:
Added: 09/21/10 03:49:00 PM
These drivers, they will never learn. I think, only solution here is to have all the cars fitted with speed controllers which restricts a driver to speed above 120 kms.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Restart traffic safety campaigns – My Letters – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 23.09.2010
Restart traffic safety campaigns
I refer to Commuters back, schools back … and tailback (September 20). Summer holidays are over and schools have started a new academic year. Back to work and back to the old problems. Traffic, traffic, traffic everywhere. The media should restart their traffic safety awareness campaigns as they did successfully last year.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Community report – GULF NEWS – Dt. 21.09.2010 – Coping with fog
Community report – GULF NEWS – Dt. 21.09.2010 – Coping with fog
Road signs on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway need an overhaul
Text and picture by Ramesh Menon, Gulf News Reader Published: 00:00 September 21, 2010
Gulf News reader Ramesh Menon predicts the return of foggy days and urged the authorities to plan ahead in order to make residents’ commutes smooth and hassle-free. He took this photograph last year on the Ghantoot highway. Image Credit: Ramesh Menon/Gulf News reader We witnessed one of the worst road accidents in the UAE back in 2008, on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway near Ghantoot.
For regular road users of this highway, it was not a surprise. The sudden weather change and lack of visibility during early mornings is a regular phenomenon on desert roads.
Now, the weather seems to be changing once again to foggy days. Accordingly, during early morning drives on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway, we can see several fog pockets, especially after the Ghantoot area. It gets very dangerous to drive with less than 30 metres visibility.
Along the route, there are major exits from the highway and all these have signboards placed on the right side of the road. During foggy days and when there is heavy vehicle traffic, these signboards are difficult to spot.
In order to avoid this dangerous situation, I suggest that the authorities:
– Introduce a new road signage system. Signboards near major exits can have luminescent paint, along with clear markings on roads. These should be present well in advance, so that drivers do not get worried and are not misguided, even in case of extreme foggy or dusty conditions.
– An increase in the installation of electronic road signs so that drivers are cautioned if there is danger ahead.
– An increase in police patrols on foggy days, especially on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway and Emirates Road.
I am optimistic that this system will be very effective, specifically on Emirates Road, Shaikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi and Shaikh Rashid Road towards Dubai.
— The reader is a technical officer, based in Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS Online.
Should car seats for children be mandatory? – My Comments – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 12.09.2010
My Comments – THE NATIONAL – Dt. 12.09.2010 – Should car seats for children be mandatory?
The Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi has now given away 1,500 car seats and educated parents on road safety. But should the seats be compulsory for parents anyway?
My comments as follows:
I think the law should be made strict to ensure all the rear passengers wear the seat belt in cars and all the passengers wear the seat belts in 15 seater vans. The habit of wearing the seat belt is very rarely practised here. In fact car seats or atleast seat belts should be the preferred mandatory options by default by all for own safety reason.
To read it in original, please visit, THE NATIONAL online.
Safety First – Do’s and Don’t for driving during foggy weather
Safety First – Do’s and Don’t for driving during foggy weather
Safe driving tips (source : GULF NEWS/Ministry of Interior UAE)
Dos:
- Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.
- Use your low-beam headlights.
- If you have fog lights, use them, in addition to low beams.
- Be patient. Avoid passing, changing lanes and crossing traffic.
- Use pavement markings to help guide you. Use the right edge of the road as a guide, rather than the centre line.
- Increase your distance with the vehicle ahead.
- Keep looking as far ahead as possible.
- If the fog is too dense to continue, pull completely off the road and try to position your vehicle in a protected area from other traffic. Turn on the hazard lights.
Don’ts:
- Don’t drive with your hazard lights continuously on and flashing.
- Don’t stop on the road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision.
- Don’t speed up suddenly, even if the fog seems to be clearing.
- Don’t speed up to pass a vehicle moving slowly.
Campaign – Appeal to bring Metro @ Whitefield Stn (Kadugodi)
Campaign – Appeal to bring Metro @ Whitefield Stn (Kadugodi)
Background (Preamble):
Metro at Bangalore is the right step forward towards making this city truly international. This will not only reduce congestion on our overloaded road transport but will also be environment friendly. The need to cut trees for road widening or using own vehicle for commuting will be nullified to a great extent. Travel by Metro will be convenient, safe and affordable for all.
This petition is created for awareness and to bring all like minded people on single platform of having Metro at Whitefield station (Kadugodi). There are multiple reasons to do so and few have been highlighted below:
1) Whitefield station is the last railway outpost of Bangalore connecting southern lines with ample parking space for future Metro expansion.
2) Kadugodi bus stand (which is fully functional with Vajra, Vayu Vajra, Big 10 and other buses plying on this route) is the confluence where in people arriving from Hoskote and Kolar change their transport to catch appropriate city bus. It is also used by residents in and around Kadugodi/ Whitefield to commute.
3) Major existing residential/ commercial/ office projects and upcoming projects in the vicinity of Kadugodi area makes a fully functional Metro a must to avoid traffic, pollution and stress.
Petition:
We, the undersigned, appeal to bring Metro at Whitefield station, Kadugodi!!!
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38671.html
Kindly log on to the above link and sign your support to this move.
Thanks and regards,
Ramesh Menon
Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at new Kadugodi flyover
Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at new Kadugodi flyover
Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at newly opened Kadugodi flyover
The new flyover at Kadugodi opposite to Brindavan ashram is proving a great help to all commuters in terms of saving time and travel comfort. However, a minor design flaw has already created a dangerous driving situation there. Drivers, especially of autos and bikes are wrongly entering the bridge without taking the u-turn designated for them causing accidents. This bridge has considerable amount of truck traffic and already several minor accidents have been witnessed by residents nearby.
Before a major accident involving loss of life happens, I request the authorities to install necessary signage about the availability of a designated u-turn a few distance away from the entrance of the bridge. Installation of an extended road divider will also make it impossible for such dare devil drivers to access the bridge easily breaking the traffic rules.
Ramesh Menon
Also posted in Praja.in:
Wrong entry by motorists causing dangerous situation at new Kadugodi flyover
My Letters – Khaleej Times Dt. 16.07.2010 – Road Signs
Road signs
16 July 2010
I refer to the report, ‘Portable message signs make capital roads safer’ (KT, July 14), and take this opportunity to congratulate the Department of Transportation, Abu Dhabi, once again on this safety-oriented move.
The effectiveness of these signs was noticed immediately after they were installed. The report, ‘Solar-powered warnings’(KT, January 16) gave elaborate details of it. These progressive measures are effective as they make sure the public takes notice of them.
Innovative efforts like these are carried out from time to time with the safety of life and property in mind. The public should take this seriously and abide by the rules so as to reduce accidents. Let patience and good sense prevail.
-Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read the referred post in Khaleej Times, please click here:
Portable message signs make capital roads safer
To read my Community report dated January 16, please click here:
My Letters – Khaleej Times – Dt 16 Jan 2010 – Solar powered warnings
My Letters – Khaleej Times – Dt 16 Jan 2010 – Solar powered warnings
To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor
Speeding saves a minute, costs a life – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 07.07.2010
My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 07.07.2010 – Speeding saves a minute, costs a life
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Renewed vigilance on road safety – My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 05.07.2010
My Letters – THE NATIONAL Dt. 05.07.2010 – Renewed vigilance on road safety
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