By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: A new dedicated centre to check the physical and mental fitness and health problems of drivers is expected to open in Qatar soon.
The purpose of the facility is to promote road safety by giving support and guidance to drivers, who have a history of accidents or have difficulty in driving, a senior official of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has disclosed.
The “mobility centre” as it is named will be operated jointly by the HMC and the Traffic Department.
The centre will assess drivers who have made accidents in the past as well as those who suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Health experts at the centre will assess drivers with health or physical problems and direct them to the traffic officials to decide on driving specifications to prevent accidents, said Dr Wafa Al Yazeedi, Chairperson and Consultant Program Director of Rehabilitation Medicine Residency Programme, Rumailah Hospital.
“Mobility centre will be a practical centre which will analyse if the drivers have any illnesses or vision or behavioural problems and assist them how to be a good driver,” said Al Yazeedi speaking on the sidelines of an event held to announce the 24th Congress of the International Traffic Medicine Association (ITMA) on Thursday.
“To prevent accidents, we will guide drivers on safe driving. If they have any problems in driving, we will help them in a way they can drive with special specifications made to the vehicles,” she added.
A special unit at the mobility centre will assist in modifying cars according to the person’s needs. Drivers with health or physical problems will be taken on a trial drive and experts will analyse their condition.
“We will guarantee people to have a safe car according to their condition to ensure their safety and the safety of others. The drivers will be assessed by the doctors and the traffic department will give car specifications,” said Dr Al Yazeedi.
The Peninsula
