New traffic radars record 54% increase in traffic violations
122,967 is the number of the traffic violations captured by new traffic radars installed all over Qatar in November 2016, as compared to the 79,852 in November 2015, indicating an increase of 54%, according to the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics’s Qatar Monthly Statistics Bulletin, Issue 35 (December 2016). The new radars not only detect over-speeding, but also catch the use of phones during driving, non-wearing of seat belts and overtaking from the right.
On the whole, November 2015 recorded 182,731 traffic violations, while November 2016 saw 134,107 such violations registering an increase of 36.3% in violations. In October 2016, the total number of traffic violations recorded was 161,353 showing a 13.2% increase when last October and November were compared together. Subsequently, 2,070 traffic violations linked to driving through a red traffic signal were recorded in November 2016 when compared to the 1,970 violations in November 2015, indicated a 13.5% decrease in driving through red signals.
The Bulletin further reported that traffic signs violations rose in November 2016 to 15,299 from 8,563 in November 2015, indicating an increase of 78.7%. Traffic accidents recorded in October 2016 were 471 in number as compared to 606 in November 2015. 97 of the accidents took place in Al Rayyan, 90 in South Qatar and 89 in Mamoura.
The above numbers show the effectiveness of the new radars and how they have affected traffic violations. It is hoped that the installation of these new radars will help stabilize traffic in Qatar and reduce the number of traffic violations in the long run; subsequently keeping people on the roads of Qatar feel safe and secure.
What do you think? Do you agree that the new radars will curb traffic violations?
Source: The Peninsula
Cover photo credit: Sam Agnew
Good story, though I'm finding it very bad report proofing in regards to the numbers used.
"122,967 is the number of the traffic violations captured by new traffic radars installed all over Qatar in November 2016" ☼versus☼
"...while November 2016 saw 134,107 such violations".
The numbers are not the same.
Then again at: "►2,070 traffic violations linked to driving through a red traffic signal were recorded in November 2016 when compared to the ►1,970 violations in November 2015, indicated a 13.5% ►decrease in driving through red signals."
The meaning was increase, not decrease.
The new radars have helped a lot, by just their presence on the streets. But I've noticed that mysteriously the initial range of their tracking has been reduced to the same useless range of the old boxy radars, so that locals driving tanks still do the decelerate-in-a-second and off again vroom vroom without any longer being concerned over fines. The only detectors that I've seen consistently working are those leading to/from the airport.
The 'space backpack'-looking new detectors ordered 2 years ago (they sit halfway up light poles) were never implemented. They were supposed to be more accurate than the current seat belt/phone detectors. Some of those phone detectors installed at intersections used to accidentally fine drivers stopped at a red light if their passenger waves a phone next to them (with an active call). Not sure if they still do, but possibly disabled as well. Anyone else witness anything strange with the established detectors around Doha?
2000+ people running red lights in a month is just too high a probability of one of us falling victim to one of them...god protect us amen...
@Britexpat: Totally agree with you brother!
I hope they will make a violation for people who don't use signal lights.
Sometimes we make mistake by not reading the speed dial properly
These cameras are there for our safety .. we must follow the rules
I doubt whether the violations will come down ... what is needed is heavier fines and punishment for offenders