DOHA: The Traffic Department has launched a new initiative to train members of different expatriate communities who can support in its ongoing traffic safety campaign.
The first training programme for representatives of more than 40 Asian community organisations was held recently at the headquarters of the Traffic Department.
This is a new initiative to spread traffic safety awareness among the expatriate communities.
The department will train select members from different communities on traffic safety, who will then conduct awareness programmes for the respective communities in their native languages. “In this way we aim to reach out to more people in a more organised manner,” said a source at the Department.
Some 43 trainees representing 43 community organisations from eight Asian countries attended the first training session that focused on the basic aspects of traffic safety.
The participants were from India (19), Nepal (nine), Filipino (six), Sri Lanka (four), Bangladesh (one), Pakistan (three) and Indonesia (one).
The training programme was part of the “Pedestrian Safety Campaign 2012 - 2013” which started last Ramadan to raise awareness on pedestrian safety, especially among the expatriate labourers.
In his inaugural address, Director of Traffic Department Brig Mohammed Saad Al Kharji said: “We urge the community representatives attending this session to spread these safety messages to the highest number of members from their communities.”
The four hour training programme led by the Director of Karwa Training Centre Robert G Mokando was held in two sessions. Faisal Al Hudawi of Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Interior presented the first session on the topic “Pedestrian accidents: Reasons and remedies”, while the second session on the topic “common traffic mistakes” was presented by Robert Mokando.
The presentations shed light to the reasons for traffic accidents involving pedestrians such as difference in traffic system between Qatar and countries of the expatriate workforce, absence of traffic culture among labourers, and difference in the speed limit on highways in Qatar and their countries,.
Wrong calculation of speed by pedestrians, weak eye sight of some road users, work pressure and depression because of the new job atmosphere, wrong crossing of roundabouts and negligence of traffic rules and regulations and to self safety have also been cited as reasons. In his presentation Mokando explained the most common mistake committed by drivers and the pedestrians.
These include a failure to move the vehicles to the nearest parking area in case of minor accidents, driving vehicles slowly on the fast track, especially by new drivers from Asian countries, talking on the phone while driving, not fastening seat belts by drivers and the front seat passenger, approaching the signals and roundabouts in high speed, running red signals and overtaking from the right side.
The next training session for representatives of other community organisations will be held in December.
Those interested to participate have been asked to send a fax mentioning their interest along with the contact numbers and email to 44323339.
The Peninsula
