BY SIDI MOHAMED
DOHA: Overtaking from the right side is the most common traffic rule violation, followed by use of mobile phones by motorists while driving, a seminar was told yesterday.
The other most frequent mistake made by motorists is that in minor accidents, they refuse to remove their cars and block
the traffic.
This is an offence which attracts a fine of QR1,000 and a deduction of three points. Traffic officials said they will now impose fines on such offenders.
“You can take a picture and remove your car from the accident site or better still, don’t take a picture and remove your car and park it in the nearest available slot.”
“The traffic police will investigate and fix the responsibility,” road safety awareness official, Abdul Wahed Al Anzi, told the seminar on road safety at
Darb Al Sai. Al Anzi said that the traffic department has begun road safety lessons for drivers from companies.
“They can send their drivers to us for those lessons.”
Replying to a question about reduction of speed to 80km per hour on February 22 Road, the official said it was being done on an experimental basis to see
its effect.
Meanwhile, the findings of a study conducted by Qatar Road Safety Studies Centre show that Al Shamal Road was the most vulnerable in terms of accident-related deaths as some 54 people died in four years on
this highway between 2010 and 2013.
Al Mamoura in Doha ranked second with a toll of 40 in the same period.
Madinat Khalifa was next with a death toll of 36, followed by
Al Rayyan at 32.
Areas in the South (Al Wakra, Messaieed) had a toll of 29 in the period while in Old Airport area of Doha, 24 people perished in road mishaps between 2010 and 2013.
The toll was only seven in Dukhan.
Figures also show that a third (33 percent) of those who died in road accidents between 2011 and 2013 were aged 20 to 29 years, and another 32 percent were in the age group of 30 to 39. People aged less than 20 comprised 16 percent of the dead.
Most accidents (55 percent) took place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (weekend), with Friday topping the list with a 20 percent share of the total.
THE PENINSULA
