Dear Sir,
More rains than usual in Qatar this year as well as heavy rains and floods in some other countries are the result of global weather changes, which are expected to be more pronounced in the coming years .
As a result of the rains, many roads and some underpasses get flooded suddenly and motorists sometimes underestimate the level of water on such stretches and thereby wade into trouble.
The authorities concerned may think of providing sign posts on the roads which are likely to be flooded in case of heavy rains. Such cautionary signs would help the public to negotiate such stretches with utmost care.
Also, colour markings indicating the risk level of water accumulated on the roads can be useful. People can be thus dissuaded from venturing into inundated streets that have dangerous levels of water.
In India such colour markings are used to caution drivers in areas where sudden flooding may occur. It is very simple but very effective and useful.
Ramesh Varadharajan
Doha
Give way to buses
Dear Sir,
I refer to the letter of Niyaz Ahmed published in Gulf Times on February 26 and titled “End unsafe driving practices”. I have been driving in Qatar for the last 11 years and wanting to write a letter about the need for passenger car owners / drivers to drive more sensibly so that the drivers of big trucks, buses and pick-ups are less frustrated and more focused on their job, resulting in safe roads for all.
We need to remember the principle ‘Size does matter’ and give big vehicles their due on roads too. I have hardly seen passenger car drivers giving way to a bus ferrying workers. I would not differ with Mr Ahmed’s observation that some bus and truck drivers do not follow rules strictly, but in my opinion the reason for such behaviour is their frustration.
Workers and the drivers, who take them to the sites, need to get up very early in the morning, in many cases as early as 3.30am to report for work before 6am. Though the scope of this letter is not to discuss their working and living conditions, usually such drivers have to drive diesel vehicles which are not as easily manoeuvrable as modern cars. There are always cars and small vans on the lane meant for heavy vehicles and most of the time, the free space in front of them are occupied by light vehicles, preventing them from free passage.
Private car owners / drivers who have state-of-the-art and comfortable vehicles, can always show some consideration to the heavy vehicles, which ferry workers to and from their sites.
Guruprasad Dasarathan
Doha
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