DOHA: Reckless driving causes some 100 casualties each year and almost an equal number of deaths are caused in accidents involving motorcycles, says a document released by the Traffic Department.
Although the number of casualties is relatively small, crashes due to reckless driving have a serious injury outcome, resulting in fatal or serious injury in 60 percent cases.
Over 100 motorcyclists are killed or injured in Qatar every year.
Motorcyclists are at fault in almost 60 percent of the crashes, a document issued as part of National Road Safety Strategy (2013-22) says.
Research suggests that helmets are 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries to a motorcyclist involved in a crash.
Wearing helmet is mandatory for all motorcyclists in the country.
Devices aimed at increasing the safety of motorcyclists must be promoted to raise awareness of the benefits that such equipment provide, according to the road safety guidelines.
Heavy vehicle drivers have the highest percentage of ‘at fault’ casualty crashes (70 percent) compared to other types of drivers.
However, only a quarter of casualties resulting from crashes involving heavy vehicles are drivers or passengers of those vehicles — instead most victims are car occupants.
The law requires those seated in the front of a vehicle to use seat belts, yet front-seat occupants (drivers and passengers) have a seat belt wearing rate of around 50 percent.
When car occupants are involved in a crash, the severity of their injuries can be significantly reduced if they wear seat belts.
One primary reason for wearing a seat belt is that if a person is ejected from the vehicle in a crash, he will not die in 75 percent of cases.
Therefore, the use of seat belts and child restraints when travelling in a vehicle is one of the primary ways of reducing deaths and injuries.
When pedestrians are involved in crashes, they suffer more severe injuries than most other road users.
Between 2008 and 2010, pedestrians were involved in 17 percent of all casualty and crashes but accounted for 33 percent of all road fatalities and 29 percent of all serious injuries.
Pedestrian are over-represented in the death and seriously injured casualty statistics largely because they, unlike vehicle occupants, are unprotected.
In addition, the provision of pathways and crossing facilities, effective campaigns and enforcement of traffic law relating to the safety of pedestrians are required to raise awareness amongst drivers and promote a safer community, according to the document.
The Peninsula
