Human error ‘causes 85% of road accidents’
About 85% of the road traffic accidents in Qatar have been attributed to human error, according to presentations made by subject experts at the recent ‘Conference on road traffic accidents and necessity of enhancing safety of drivers and passengers’ hosted by Mowasalat.
The two-day conference held under the patronage of HE the Minister of Transport and Communications, Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, was organised in association of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Ministry of Interior’s Traffic Department.
Reiterating their company’s commitment to the highest levels of traffic safety and service, Mowasalat chairman Nasser bin Mohamed al-Malki said the transportation system is the main vehicle for attracting new investments and accelerating the country’s economic growth and social development.
Director of Land Transport Licensing Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) Sheikh Naif Abdulrahman al-Thani highlighted that road safety can be improved through the establishment of a global level road infrastructure, better land transport system and enacting effective traffic safety laws.
Director General of the General Directorate of Traffic Major General Mohamed Saad al-Kharji said as part of the second phase of the National Strategy for Traffic Safety (2018-22) ambitious plans are being worked out at the urban planning level to reduce traffic congestion by 5% per year until 2022.
Qatar is one of the leaders in terms of traffic safety, said alKharji while adding that the establishment of the National Traffic Safety Bureau is one of the major initiatives of their directorate.
Secretary general of the National Traffic Safety Committee Brigadier Mohamed Abdulla al-Malki said the national strategy on reducing accidents has helped reduce the mortality rate from road accidents to 5.4 per 100,000 residents.
IRU Academy’s associate director Patrick Philip said Qatar has shown remarkable commitment to the objectives of sustainable development and has many good achievements to its credit in the area of traffic safety.
MoTC’s Road Assets Department manager Hamad Issa, and some speakers from the UK, Europe, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and also from Qatar also spoke on a host of issues having bearing on traffic safety.
While thanking HE al-Sulaiti for his patronage to the conference, Mowasalat MD and CEO Khalid Nasser al-Hail lauded the other departments, agencies, institutions and stakeholders for making the annual event a good experience for the participants.
Karwa Driving School-Mowasalat manager Robert Makondo recalled the achievements of their school over the years and said how they contributed to the strengthening of the security and safety of roads in the country.
The event also had the participation of officials from The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar University, Woqod, Hamad Medical Corp, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Rail, Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Scientific Club.