Double parking causing traffic jams

Several residents have complained that double parking that is so common in most internal streets is obstructing traffic and causing inconveniences to other motorists.

The violation is often committed in busy areas like Old Airport and Najma. Here some motorists do park their vehicles half on the road and half in the parking area where another vehicle is parked.

This practice often prevents some of the vehicles in the parking from leaving and always obstructs a traffic lane to the extent of often making the street jammed.

One motorist identified as Mohammed was found waiting for a driver of the car parked behind his car and blocking his exit in the Old Airport area said he had to wait for about 10 minutes, to find this person.

“I tried honking on the vehicle and also asking the shops around for the car owner and he was missing,” he said. “Finally he appeared and apologised saying that he had gone to his flat to pick something.”

Double parking, blocking off or causing traffic jam at parking areas, or leaving a vehicle on the road in a way that might cause traffic problems or accidents are a traffic violation and are all punished with a fine of QR500.

Similarly the parking fine is imposed if a vehicle is parked in a space reserved for the disabled, in bus waiting areas, in loading and unloading areas and on footpaths and walkways.

It is a common sight in many areas where people park their cars on the road and rush into shops to buy something while others come and park behind other cars calling shop attendants to come and take their orders.

“There is no parking in this place and car rental shops are occupying parking spaces of even some other shops,” said another motorist found waiting in his car for his order from a restaurant in Old Airport commercial streets.

Double parking was not only common on roads but also in private building parking slots. Residents of some buildings are having more than one vehicle and they would try to double park all their cars.

In some buildings it is visitors who park behind their hosts parking and block the car of the neighbour as well.

Another resident said he was not against double parking because there was a known shortage of parking spaces in the country compared to the number of cars owned.

He, however, wanted people to learn some good practices like leaving the hand brake off, allowing the drivers of the cars next to the curb to push the car a little forward or backward, in order to allow leaving the parking slot.

Drivers who did not park properly also worsened the parking problems in some areas. Some drivers park their car in spaces designated for two cars.

A severe shortage of parking space has been mostly cited as the main reasons of parking violations like double parking. Most shopping areas and other entertainment spots in the country did not have adequate parking facilities.

Recently Souq Waqif management announced that a huge underground multi-storeyed parking facility would be built near the market to enable visitors to gain better access to the tourist hotspot. [The Peninsula]