Safety First

Safety first – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 10th January 2015

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Safety first

Many times life changes in a flash.

Looking at the weather scenario and the fog happening these days bring a sense of caution to all those who are driving in the UAE.

A strong sense of self-responsibility is required by everyone to drive slowly and safely. If and when one finds someone driving dangerously during bad weather, all efforts should be made to control the situation.

“Start early, drive carefully and reach safely” be our mantra at all times when we plan a journey.

Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today – Short Take – Dt. 10 January 2015


To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online

This entry was posted in Gulf Today, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2015, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First.

Poor visibility due to thick fog – Drive carefully

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Poor visibility in Abu Dhabi and surroundings due to thick fog (even at 08:10 am). Please drive slowly and carefully. Safety First.

This entry was posted in Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

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BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY


On Nov.3, we celebrated the UAE Flag Day. As part of the events of the flag campaign “Raise it high… Raise it proud” we were hoisting the flag in front of the mall where our office is situated. All management and staff were present representing a high multi-national blend joining together to show our solidarity to the country and its leaders’ vision.
The UAE national anthem was played at the end and we were just dispersing when I suddenly noticed our vice-president Sultan Al Hajji rushing to the middle of the pathway separating the main road from the mall.
I saw a group of school children running between the vehicles to a school bus which had stopped wrongly on the middle of the road for them to alight.
I was shocked and my reaction was also as impulsive as my vice president. I too rushed to the bus, stopped the children and went and requested the driver to move the bus to a safe place for children to get in. All these happened in a flash and we were able to control the children quickly.
We sent a request to the mall authorities and through them to the government departments to have appropriate fencing immediately so that this easy path that tempts drivers to stop midway ends.
We also came out with a plan to reroute the direction for larger groups, especially children to board the bus in safety. End of the day, it became a productive effort with excellent coordination from all concerned.
This spur of the moment action made our UAE Flag Day memorable. We felt happy that we value safety.
Safety aspects cannot be given rest. Safety is everybody’s business.
That is the culture we wish to bring on in everyone’s mind.

Ramesh Menon

To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today Online

For all my readers:

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You may also read similar articles at: Safety First

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Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi – Clicksand Writes

This entry was posted in Gulf Today, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First.

School buses must be tamed – Letters to the Editor – The National Dt 04 November 2014

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School buses must be tamed

I am relieved to know that road accident rates in Abu Dhabi have fallen (Deaths on roads decline by 17 per cent, November 2).
However, when I look at the way some drivers behave, I cannot believe that we have made any significant achievement in terms of road safety awareness.
For example, I regularly see school buses speeding through Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, Corniche Road and through the narrow lanes of Madinat Zayed. I see them being driven recklessly almost everywhere in the city.
Are these drivers not bothered about the safety of children, that of their own and other road users? Are they not even afraid of punishment?
More importantly, there is no way to alert the bus owners about such dangerous behaviour as none of them carries the “Am I driving safely?” sticker. This issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National online

This entry was posted in HSE, Letters to the editor, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First, The National.

Safety First – Wear your seat belts

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For all my readers:

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You may also read similar articles at: Safety First

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Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi – Clicksand Writes

This entry was posted in HSE, Road Safety, Safety First.

Drive Safe – Gulf Today – Short Take Dt 25 October 2014

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Drive safe
I am always worried when I get to see people driving dangerously. It has been a routine to talk and promote about safety on the road and elsewhere. From experience, I have felt people have to be consistently reminded of safe driving habits.
A moment of lapse in attention is enough to result in a major road disaster.
This is again and again proved when I drive on the Abu Dhabi – Dubai highway.
I was driving back from Dubai a few days ago and found the car in front of me not in control and wavering from one line to another. Feeling something dangerous going to happen as I watched a few distance from behind, I flashed and honked the driver to stop.
I went to him and talked to him whether he was ok. I found him exhausted and sleepy. It took some time for me to convince him to stop for some time, take enough rest and re-start his journey.
Many times, we may not get to be in that situation. I realised that it is not enough to drive carefully. But, we also need to watch out for others’ mistakes.
Beware of others’ mistakes. True to its word, at times we are really helpless.

Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
For all my readers:

If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. 

You may also read similar articles at: Safety First

I would love to read your comments.

Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi – Clicksand Writes




Key words: Road Safety, Safety First

This entry was posted in #RameshMenonAbuDhabi, Gulf Today, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First.

Jaywalking on the increase

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Jaywalking on the increase 

I would like to bring readers’ attention to the fact that jaywalking has increased on the streets of Abu Dhabi – especially along Sheikh Zayed the First Street (formerly Electra Road).

I find driving in the evening quite dangerous, because people of all ages cross the road at will.

I don’t know why they do this without any consideration for their own lives, but I do know that a lack of fencing is allowing them to do it.

I believe the distance between the pedestrian crossings is too far, so people take the easy option. I also think that some people avoid using the underpass because they feel unsafe doing so.

There should be an official campaign to fine people who jaywalk, and this fine should be increased if the person is talking on a mobile phone or listening to music through earphones.

I would like to see fencing along the median strip and signage to indicate the location of the underpass.

Let’s work together to make safety a priority.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

To read this in original, please visit The National Online

For all my readers:

(If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon

This entry was posted in HSE, Letters to the editor, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First, The National.

Need for increased "speed control measures" by BTP in Kadugodi area

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The connecting road from Hoskote to Hope Farm area of Whitefield Bangalore has been relayed beautifully by the authorities.

The work has been done in such a way that the road till the Kadugodi Over Bridge is smooth and in a drivable condition.

There is a danger awaiting here at all times.

With the completion of the road work, the traffic has gained momentum in terms of speed. This includes the buses and heavy trucks.

A U-turn exists near the bridge making it easy for residents of nearby communities to cross over to the other side of the road.

However, the removal of a speed breaker that existed is now causing lot of inconvenience and near miss situations for the drivers to turn and proceed.

The bikes, trucks and buses are all in a hurry and neither stops nor reduce the speed!

Another serious danger of children from an apartment complex nearby crossing over the road to take their school bus. On either side, these vehicles never reduce the speed. Coming down the narrow bridge, the vehicles tend to speed and proceed. Going towards the bridge, the vehicles compete with each other to reach the bridge first!

It doesn’t end there. Many vehicles coming from the Hoskote side, take advantage of the U-turn and cut across wrongly and proceed towards the market side or residential communities located there. This is extremely dangerous and has to be immediately controlled.

I humbly request BTP on this serious safety issue and resolve it by:

– Having appropriate reduce speed signage kept in this area.

– Having BTP patrol presence in the morning, especially when children go to school.

– Having increased BTP patrol presence, on first Sunday of the month where a regular function is held at Sai Vrindavan Ashram and heavy traffic and people movement happens.

– Kindly reroute the heavy trucks from this road and using the bridge, which causes regular traffic blocks.

Accidents have to be averted by taking necessary safety measures before and not after they have happened and valuable life lost.

Ramesh Menon

For all my readers:


(If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post. Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon

This entry was posted in Bangalore Traffic Police, HSE, Kadugodi Improvement Project, Road Safety, Road Safety India, Road Safety UAE, Safety First, TQM India.

New road will ease traffic – Letters to the editor – The National 15 September 2014

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New road will ease traffic


I am sure commuters will be relieved when the road works are complete in the Al Wahda Mall area (Road works expected to ease access to Al Wahda Mall, September 14).
Apart from congestion, the bus stop dedicated to the shopping complex posed a visual obstruction for drivers exiting the mall. Another shortcoming was the lack of sunshades for bus passengers. These two issues, I hope, will be resolved.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

This entry was posted in HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First, The National.

Pedestrian bridge fails to lure capital jaywalkers

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ABU DHABI // Residents and visitors darting through high-speed traffic to get to Abu Dhabi Mall is an all-too-common sight.
The “no pedestrian” signs, a footbridge across to the mall and another near Le Meridien Hotel are being routinely ignored by many and even a Dh200 fine for jaywalking has failed to deter hasty pedestrians.
At 4pm on Monday, in a 30-minute period The National counted 42 pedestrians crossing three lanes of traffic to and from Abu Dhabi Mall. Less than half that number took the stairs.
Many find it easier to take the risk and dash across the street. Among the jaywalkers were two couriers, a woman and her young daughter, a pregnant woman, two women wearing abayas, an Abu Dhabi Co-op staffer with a trolley filled with groceries, men in business suits, and groups of mall shop workers.
A 27-year-old banker, who did not wish to be named, said a jaywalking ticket would not deter him from crossing illegally.
“I got a fine about three years ago,” he said. “I’m so tired and I just want to get into my car now. I just don’t care if I get a fine right now.”
In March 2008, police raised the fines for jaywalking to Dh200 from Dh50, saying the lower penalty had failed to deter pedestrians.
The elevator installed near the pedestrian bridge had also done little to encourage pedestrians to use it, he said.
“It takes five minutes each to get up and down,” he said. “They need to do something about it.”
On Monday, the entrance to the elevator was cordoned off by police tape.
“This elevator is for the physically handicapped, visually impaired persons and senior citizens only,” a sign read.
A security guard said jaywalking tended to be a group activity.
“At 6pm, they all come in groups,” he said. “It’s illegal and dangerous, but they prefer to cross the road.”
Two Filipina service crew were apologetic when asked why they had crossed the road instead of using the footbridge.
“We’re really sorry,” one said. “We know it’s wrong but we’re late for work.”
Police are stationed near the mall to conduct random inspections and issue jaywalking fines.
“They’re usually here at 7pm,” the mall guard said.
Sajith Raj, 27, a fireman in Abu Dhabi for five years, said it did not make sense for people to dash across lanes of traffic and put themselves in harm’s way.
                         
“I always use the bridge when I visit the mall,” said Mr Raj, who crossed over with four friends. “Apart from being dangerous and illegal, a lot of time is wasted waiting until the vehicles pass.”
Mani Alumuthu, 42, a marketing officer who has lived in Abu Dhabi for four years, agreed.
“The Government built this bridge with the pedestrians’ safety in mind, but unfortunately only a few are using it.”
In February, Abu Dhabi Municipality announced measures to improve the safety of pedestrians and road users. Pavements have since been widened and standardised, new fencing to prevent jaywalking has been erected and electronic directional signs have been installed.
The Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrol Directorate reported in July that its campaign “Towards Reducing Serious Injuries and Death Rates Caused by Run-Over Accidents” resulted in a 59 per cent fall in deaths caused by run-over incidents in the past five years.
“But the majority of the residents lack a safe traffic culture,” said Ramesh Menon, a technical officer at an oil firm in Abu Dhabi and a resident for 25 years.

“It’s very sad to see women with their children who repeatedly cross the road in undesignated areas. They are supposed to educate them and spread road safety awareness and help save lives.”
All pedestrians and cyclists should remember they have a key responsibility for their own safety, said Dino Kalivas, chairman of the driver education and training committee at the International Road Federation.
“They should stop one step back from the kerb or shoulder of the road if there is no walkway and listen in all directions for approaching traffic,” he said.
“They should also think about whether it is safe to cross the road, when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped, and observe the traffic lights and signals.”

rruiz@thenational.ae  

This entry was posted in HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Road Safety UAE, Safety First, The National.