Doha: In line with the launch of the Qatar National Road Safety Strategy, the Qatar National Vision 2030 and National Research Strategy 2012, the newly established Research and Technology Department of Qatar Petroleum (QP) has partnered with Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), Williams Advanced Engineering and Shell for a project to look into the role of vehicle tyres on road accidents in Qatar and to educate motorists on the importance of proper tyre safety.
QP has a significant social responsibility as one of the major employers in Qatar. In the energy and industry sector alone, it is estimated that there are more than 120,000 staff excluding family members, representing a significant percentage of road users in the country, a press release issued by QP said yesterday.
Representatives from Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment and the Public Works Authority will form part of the project team.
The project will evaluate the existing situation and use accessible research data to determine the impact vehicle tyres have on road accidents and how tyre interaction with road surfaces contribute towards accidents. External contributing factors such as high temperatures, humidity and the frequent sandstorms experienced in Qatar will also be evaluated.
Part of the project will be campaigns to educate vehicle users on basic tyre maintenance such as regular tyre pressure checks and the interpretation of the ‘DOT’ code, which specifies the manufacture date of the tyre.
In order to ensure alignment with other road and traffic safety initiatives under way in Qatar, QP’s Research & Technology Department will involve the Qatar National Traffic Safety Committee to act in an advisory capacity.
“Loss of life due to a motor vehicle accident cannot be calculated in monetary value. If we save only one life due to our efforts of this project, it will prove worth the research effort,” said Dr Nasser Saqer Al Mohannadi, Manager of QP’s Research & Technology Department.
The Peninsula
