Qatar- Sharp decline in traffic fatalities in last 10 years

DOHA: The number of deaths related to road accidents had seen a sharp decline in the last ten years, Colonel Mohammed Radi Al Hajri, Director of Media and Awareness Department at the General Directorate of Traffic has said.

'One of the reasons behind the decline of the deaths is enforcing Traffic Law No 2007, and the new traffic strategies which many entities are participating in, he told The Peninsula.

The highest number of deaths due to traffic was in 2006 which recorded 270 cases, compared to 177 deaths recorded last year despite the increase in number of vehicles and residents.

'The new traffic figures show that 97 percent of traffic accidents are minor, and for us the biggest concern is the traffic deaths and it decreases every year especially in 2013, he said.

About incidents of pedestrians being run over, Al Hajri said the main reason behind run-over cases is the lack of pedestrians knowledge who are not using the pedestrian lanes, and cross from dark areas and the department is working on this.

He added: 'Today there are many entities and institutions which have partnered with the Traffic Department and the main goal is to reduce the number of traffic accidents because every institution has responsibility in this regard.

Colonel Al Hajri pointed out that the Media and Awareness Department currently focuses on aggressive behaviour which had become widespread among motorists, to raise awareness about it, adding that 'Such behaviour is strange in the society and its appearance may be due to motorists coming from various cultures. The Department held a number of symposiums and invited experts and psychologists to discuss this issue and to find solutions.

Regarding the issue of The ‘Smart Impound' device launched recently by the General Directorate of Traffic, he said it is in the experimental stage and will start soon.

The new device will enable motorists to keep impounded vehicles at their own premises instead of leaving them at police-designated impounding yards.

'The impound starts from one day to 90 days and such device has the same purpose which is to prohibit the vehicle owner from using the vehicle during the impound period. In case he moves the vehicle then we will start the impound again, Al Hajri noted.

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