Road accidents on the decline in Qatar
Improved road infrastructure and adherence to traffic laws by motorists have helped reduce the number of road accidents
TRAFFIC accidents in Qatar are on the decline despite marked increase in the number of vehicles, thanks to improved road infrastructure and adherence to traffic laws by motorists.
The number of traffic accidents in Qatar reduced by 2.8 percent in 2019 as compared to 2018. A total of 217, 353 road accidents were recorded in 2019, while there were 223,718 accidents in 2018. In 2019, 168 people lost their lives to road accidents, while 154 died in 2018.
“We believe that the reason for the decline in the number of road accidents is improved infrastructure on Qatar roads and the implementation of traffic laws among motorists,” said Captain Saud Abdullah Al Hamad while speaking at a webinar on traffic safety organised by the Traffic Awareness Department in conjunction with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior.
He said there was also a 16.2 percent decline in road accident severity in 2019 as compared to 2018. Most of the road accidents in 2019 were minor and with no injuries, he added.
The official presented the tasks that the traffic personnel perform in regulating the movement of vehicles.
The department carries out studies on all traffic diversions and issues permits related to road closures and plans, he added.
HE urged people to follow traffic regulations as there are radars that monitor everything on roads, including speeding and jumping red light.
He said mobile radars are being installed on roads from time to time.
Mobile radars are located in Shamal Highway, G-Ring Road, Al Majd Road, Air Force Street, F-Ring Road, Al Wakrah, The Pearl, Al Waab, Al Dafna, Al Rayyan, Salwa Road, DukhanShahaniya, Al Khor Coastal, Ras Laffan, Abu Hamour, Al Refaa, Lusail Road, Ain Khalid, Al Khisah, Madinat Khalifa and Hamad Port.
“We update on our social media platforms in both
English and Arabic on the places where the mobile radars are situated. The objective is not to impose fines on motorists but to ensure safety and security for everyone on the road,” he said.
The webinar was presided over by officer at the Traffic Safety First-Lieutenant Ahmed bin Hamad Al Thani. Captain Abdel Wahid Gharib Al Anezi from the Traffic Awareness Department presented a set of traffic instructions related to road safety, reviewing a number of awareness programmes prepared by the department. ‘Ensure your Ehteraz app is on while on road’
An officer from the Patrols and Traffic Investigation Department has advised people to make sure that their Ehteraz application is on while leaving home.
“Traffic patrols have been conducting a very effective campaign to check Ehteraz app among passengers. When going out ensure that your Ehteraz app is on and it show green colour code. Otherwise, it will be considered a violation and legal action will be taken,” said Captain Hamad Talib al Marri.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, traffic patrols work to confirm the adherence to the precautionary guidelines of the authorities by road users, especially with regards to limiting the number of passengers and wearing masks, he said.