Noisy residential areas can be a nightmare

We live in a great location –Al Maqtaa area of Abu Dhabi. Our compound is new and lush. The same lushness abounds in the surrounding locality, yet the same cannot be said about peace and quiet (Residents in search of sound solutions, October 7).

This area transforms after dark into something like an F1 track. Police helicopters also hover around. Add to this the flight paths of Al Bateen and Abu Dhabi International Airports, and our opportunity for quiet time is rare.

I wonder whether there is any effective solution to such neighbourhood nuisance? Surely the authorities cannot place a soundproof wall around every community. May be more daytime flight arrivals would help. The only other way to ensure a good night’s sleep is to use old-fashioned ear plugs.

Jane Bett, Abu Dhabi

One resident of the Golden Mile area of the Palm Jumeirah says she cannot sleep because “you would see a Ferrari and a Porsche racing each other”.

I live in the same area. For me, a few supercars leaving The Palm late in the night is nothing to worry about. There is no “racing” and now we have speed cameras on and off The Palm. The resident who complained must be a very light sleeper.

Vicki Attoe, Dubai

I live in that area. It’s always noisy if you’re facing the construction site. A new hotel is coming up there. So you can imagine the noise level – it’s out of control.

Ziggy Darwish, Dubai

Child’s death is shocking

It's a tragedy that all the efforts to ensure safety of schoolchildren failed to prevent another accident (School in mourning as girl, 3, dies after being locked in bus, October 8). A kindergarten pupil at an Abu Dhabi school died in similar circumstances in 2009.

Parents breathed a sigh of relief when Abu Dhabi brought in a series of school bus safety measures. But now it seems that those are inadequate. Ultimately what matters is our alertness and responsibility. In the absence of those, nothing can guarantee our safety.

I am sure the authorities will do their best to find out who was responsible. Meanwhile, I pray for the child’s family.

K Ragavan, India

I am shocked by the news. My deepest condolences to her family, may she rest in peace. Even though it’s too early to draw a conclusion, these buses are often not safe because the conductors have no idea of what the children do. The children move around freely in the moving bus and no one insists that they wear seat belts.

My son has to take the bus every day and I pray every day that he reaches home safely. The bus condition is also not up to expectations. I complained to the bus company, but they just didn’t care.

Valentina Gherardi, Abu Dhabi

This news is heart-breaking. Although investigations will take place and steps will be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future, nothing can take the pain from the child’s parents. We can only pray for them.

A Nayek, Abu Dhabi

China ought to join anti-ISIL drive

I refer to the opinion article China can't avoid playing a role in the containment of ISIL (October 7). It is not surprising that China has remained aloof from Middle East affairs since the Gulf War broke out a couple of decades ago. Even during the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, China remained quiet.

But now that the US is trying to eliminate ISIL from the region, it will require the participation of Asian countries.

The Middle East being an oil and business hub, it is of great importance to every nation in the world. That means if ISIL is allowed to expand its base in the region, it will hurt everyone. This is why Asian countries should actively support the US in its efforts.

China’s policy of not getting involved in those affairs might have helped it to avoid many problems at home, but the question is how long can it remain insulated from the effects of these conflicts?

Ramachandran Nair, Oman