Is there any compassion in Qatar?

Try not to get too upset about it. People Stereotype others all of the time. I'm sure that they didn't mean to offend anyone, just trying to make a point. Sometimes I get PO'd for the opposite reasons when people assume things about the US too. Like everyplace is dangerous just because that is all you see on the news, not saying that you were referring to it. Most of it is perfectly safe with very kind hearted people as I'm sure most countries are.

Peace!

'Why do you have to mention Pakistan or Afghanistan if something is happening in any 3rd country?'

----> dont twist my thread from its context. Thank you.

Why do you have to mention Pakistan or Afghanistan if something is happening in any 3rd country? Accidents happen everywhere. In some parts of the world where the most claimed civilzed people live, people DRINK and DRIVE and kill every weekend. People are killed first then taken their pocket deprived off their money. In some parts of the modern world people are supposed to keep 5-10 dollars just in case they are mugged and then they give those 5-10 dollars to the muggers just not get killed by the muggers who kill just because you got nothing for those muggers in your pocket.

In some parts of the modern world you can't walk after sunset.

In some parts of the world people hide diseases like SARS until they are exposed to the world.

In some parts of the world innocent people are killed by other countries (in their own countries you can't even kill a chicken to eat even in your own house).

If you were happy in your own country then why do not you go back to your own country??? Things might be even worst there than what's happening in Afghanistan, Pakistan or here in Qatar and this is why you are here and not there. Right???

Do not try or pose to be so sophisticated. Like they say, "If you can't take the heat, do not come to the kitchen"

I am not justifying those who kill people with their large fancy cars. What to talk about them, they even kill themselves.

Hi Ingesu ... long time no see. Are you out of Doha yet? I know your son school finish already.

My pleasure to give you my input ... :) Keep in touch on FB. Regards to your boys from us, have a nice summer hols.

You can't teach experience...

Novita, hi! long time, I know. You know, I am planning to write a book once we leave the country, so who knows when... Would love your input since you have been here longer than me. No worries, I'll wait until you are out of here too :-)

hmm, interesting view point that the bridges can clutter up the view / landscape.

I'v seen in singapore atleast one underground travelator. Its a nice idea and can be afforded by the govt. here.

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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

salwa road definitely needs a few pedestrian bridges.

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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

More than once I have come close to being knocked over whilst walking on the pavement here!

My suggestions:

a) A draconian crack down on slack driving

b) lollipop crossing people for schools

- a school near me is a disgrace with traffic as the parents just stop in the middle of the road and create chaos

organise the cars - staff to organise kids going to cars

its all so random

c) zebra crossings

d) crack down on people ambling across the road

bridges and underpasses are fine....but lets start with enforcing the rules

As a driver I'm trying to pull out into traffic from a parking lot, it's a one way so there is really no need to look right. Your watching left to see a break in traffic when you go to pull out some idiot is crossing the street directly right of where you are pulling out. These guys are choosing to put themselves in these situations just by laziness or stupidity. If they just cross on my left then they drop their chance of getting hit by at least 80%.

Bridges and Tunnels should be built, but in the end it's up to the person doing the crossing. Even with the heaviest of traffic a person should be able to cross without any issues. In my life I've only heard of someone getting hit by a car a few times before moving here. Well there were a bunch in China too, but not in the States, it's the mentality of the people. I mean how hard is it? Look left right and left no cars then walk. The problem is that the people run out into traffic like squirrels. Sure, I've hit a few squirrels in my day, but humans are supposed to be more intelligent.

a pedestrian overpass/bridge is really a good idea... a vote for me too..

"there are so many rumors about me...feel free to believe in any of'em.."

They should build several overpass crossings in Wakra--like they do over train tracks in the States. It could go either way with the traffic up and over, or the pedestrians up and over, but if the traffic went up and over, there wouldn't be any worry about clearance for tall trucks, only the loud rumbling echoing underneath.

Maybe some folks need to re-tool a VPN tunnel........

i would vote for tunnel ... if anyone been to Singapore, they have huge underground tunnel dotted around the country for pedestrian. One is in the junction crossing between orchard road and stevens road. And they also have long tunnel from City Hall MRT all the way to the suntec city with exits point dotted along.

Nothing to stop under ground walkways from connecting major pedestrian points here i.e. direct to shopping malls etc.

Tunnels are good too, but even if we had tunnels/bridges every X meters, I think most pedestrians would just cross the road without going to them (I saw that in Egypt for example, they find it too far away, and they have to go up stairs).

There is a proposal for a redesign of the corniche however there probably will not be any bridges. The gov't doesn't want to clutter up the view with them which I agree with. Tunnels maybe. In Wakra a bridge would be a good idea as long as they build it high enough that a truck doesn't run into it, otherwise we'll have postings of trucks running into bridges. I have to say though that there are a lot of people who cross the roads very recklessly. I can't count the times that I almost hit someone because the walked in front of the car. Crossing the streets right at a driveway or exit from a shopping center. I'm afraid that it's not just the drivers, but these people have to learn that what they do is very risky indeed. Stupid people are the majority in this place.

Yes, compassion & patience is seriously lacking over here. The severe lack of pedestrian footpaths and proper crossings is astounding. How many times do u see cars not even stopping at zebra crossings? How many times have you as a driver try to come out of a slip road and ppl dont even slow down to give you way? They speed up when they see u trying to filter. If everyone practices patience and compassion we can see a decrease in accidents here in Qatar. Why put speed cameras etc only to have the fines squashed if you have got contacts in the traffic department? Crazy. Everyday I send my kids to school and God know how many reckless drivers or accidents I see on the roads. When u slow down to give ppl way you get seriously honked by the person behind you. Reading Gypsy's post makes me shudder!! Race, race, race, speed , speed, speed...seems like everyone is rushing to somewhere, if we only stop to consider other people and not just ourselves, i believe things can start to change, insya Allah.

Faith & Love ... the key ingredients in LIFE..

But no bridges so I don't know how theygetting across now? Maybe they jump over? Anyway I agree with Alexa, why they walk down a road in dark clothes at night?

As for the idiot drivers??? I seen them do the stunts right in front of police....But do they pull them over???

Never not once...The camera is the only police...

You can't teach experience...

In my country it is the law that cars give way to pedestrians. Here the opposite seems to be true. The whole problem is caused by bad planning combined with impatient, selfish (and often plain stupid) drivers rushing to somewhere that doesn't really matter. It doesn't help that most pedestrians walk out into the road without looking.

The story about the people wanting to move the injured boy out the way made me feel sick. how can anyone do this? what is the mentality of these people?

I never pretended to be any class of 'journalist', but thank you for the compliment.

As for mentioning any country in my thread, as a public forum thats my perogative.

No sane person will have any issue with the reference to those countries with in the context that it was meant.

In fact, with more than 60 replies, your the first to try and stir it up on a non related issue!!

Go start a new thread if you want to start something to discuss about those countries.

Who else has stopped at the pedestrian crossing on the corniche when the light is red, only to be beeped and flashed by drivers behind you?

Pedestrian crossings seem to be viewed as 'optional' red lights. I've frequently seen plenty of people just drive right through the red light, even if people are still midway through crossing.

The same goes for the LULU Hypermarket .. There's always people trying to cross as they park on the opposite side and so often ends up in tragedy..

Its all over the country, its just bad planning Like gypsy said first off they should start with schools and crossing guards or signals or something ...

Wakra is just 1 small example.. The whole city is scary to be a pedestrian in ..

Kuwait - Entire Corniche = No crossings

Al Khobar - Entire Corniche = 1 crossing

Bahrain - Entire Corniche = 2 crossings

Qatar - Entire Corniche = 4 crossings

The above do not include regular traffic signals.

The difference is that the other countris use bridges giving a large degree of seperation between traffic and pedestrians.

Riyadh though would be top of my list. They have a huge number of underpasses, but they are all gated and chained locked as the idiot muttawwa say they could be used for illegal trysts!

Bleu u said it right. The reason may be, from birla to get U turn, you have to drive atleast 5 to6 kilometres. You can turn only infront of the G-Mart at Al naser!!!!

Should not let the small ones cross alone. Parent should have accompanied him cross the road. :(

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- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -

Mates its the same story Gypsy wrote in detail.

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- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -

I am staying in Wakrah, and most of the day i hear the Amubluance and copz sirens rushing towards the accidents sites. Its worser during weekends...:(

I totally agree with Novita's suggestions.

Hope the officials take necessary steps ATLEAST NOW after seeing so many accidents in this area every now and then.

I'd also suggest that people drop their kids at the school, not the other side of the road!!!!

A week back, dad dropped his son infront of the Birla public school, and the kid had to cross the road to the international school opposite. One car knocked him down and the second one ran over him, what I heard was a bad news...Just now came to know he is recovering.

Let the bridges be there near the schools and hospitals first.

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- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -

so sad gypsy, that's an simple example of how ignorant some people are here, sorry they are not people, they are animals coz they are uncivilized, they don't have any concern about the victim of the accident, selfish bastards

My mother just had a horrifying experience. One of her 15 year old students was hit by TWO Land cruisers coming down the slip road at high speeds outside of her school. They both left the scene immeidiately. (The students who witnessed say they were both wearing thobes, unfortunately they were too young and shocked to get the liscense plate numbers). While my mother held the boy in traction a line up of other cars (Mostly parents picking up their kids and other cars coming down the slip road) started to line up in front of her, and people started honking and shouting at her to move the boy out of the way so they could get by. Some Qatari men even got out of the car and started yelling at her and trying to move the boy and She and the boys father (who witnessed it) had to litterally fight them off. She kept telling him that if she moved him she could break his back, that he had to stay till the ambulance came.

Finally a cop came and when he saw the situation yelled so loudly and started pushing so hard at the men that they all got in the car and shut up till after the ambulance came and left.

By question is where the hell was something blocking off this slip road when school was letting out? A crossing guard or a barrier or something? So that people can't come speeding down a slip road in front of a school.

yeah, they have to construct foot bridges not only in wakra but also in d ring road or any other highway that is very difficult to cross, im sorry guys but i don't have the means to help but i do support this thread and i hope that the government would slow down on constructing buildings and give efforts on making this foot bridges instead, after all, everybody says this is a safe country to live aside from stupid drivers out there

As someone who works opposite City Centre and has braved the 'race of doom' across the 4 lane (either side) traffic, it makes me shudder to think of what it takes to build a simple footbridge(s) to avoid potential fatalities (if there haven't been any already) on this strip of road.

I have heard rumours that the powers that be are not a fan of footbridges and hence the reason they are few and far between (there's one on C Ring Road, coming from the corniche, heading towards the airport I believe?). Again, this is just what I have heard, I'm not claiming it's the truth.

On this particular stretch of road in front of City Centre there is going to be what looks like traffic lights to allow pedestrians to cross (*cough*) 'safetly' from one side of the road to the other, but only in one place and I can't actually see the means to get to this place without a stroll through the traffic.

On another note, has anyone had the misfortune of trying to use the pedestrian/zebra crossings that are not controlled by lights (e.g. some right turning traffic at traffic lights)? There has been many a time where either I have seen people or have nearly been taken out myself on a number of occasions and it appears those stripes on the roads are a hint to some drivers to go faster as opposed to slow down!

I can't understand the lack of footbridges, they're a cheap and simple solution.

They're needed all over, including outside Doha College and the American School. At least two pupils have been knocked down crossing that street.

It would also cut traffic congestion if parents could drop their kids, knowing they could safely cross to school.

Instead, we all cause pollution and jams because, for the sake of safety, we have to drive close to the schools.

Regards back at ya Drac, But I thought Dracs were on Night shift, like me!

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bloody regards,stevethetyke

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... speeed limit should be followed by anyhow...

Why is Dracula out in the seering heat of day?????

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Really I am not surprised at this unfortunate fatality.

I, like many in the Doha, have problems crossing the road.

Motorists rule the roads here!

It is impossible to cross anywhere, even at pedestrian crossings.

If someone does slow down for me it is usually a European or an American driver.

I fear for my life having to cross the road.

Sometimes motorists go even faster when they see someone running for their lives. How much does it actually cost to slow down for someone?

Nothing.

I am also surprised that pedestrians are not treated better by motorists - especially out in the seering heat, where more consideration should be given to pedestrians from motorists, who are in comfortable airconditioned cars.

If they cautiously slowed down to allow people to cross the road it would be a tremendous help.

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Bloody regards,only for morons drivers!

It's a sad fact that Ashghal doesn't care, it's probably because WE never walk.

How can we change that mentality?

Can one LEARN empathy?

I have difficult memories on that road, and I'd donate to build a bridge, as a first step.

(Just don't put speed bumps on a highway, it's stupid.)

Alexa, Ah Yes. Point taken.HaHa. didn't think about that did I!!?

Lest I put words into Alexa's mouth...

It's not the drivers disobeying the signals you have to be worried about, it's the moronic pedestrians.

Rather than wait 1 or 2 minutes for the little green walking man to guide them safely across the road, there are some people who are in such a hurry they prefer to chance it.

you werent here before the imposed 6000 QR fines for jumping red light steve ....

No Alexa,As I said the majority of drivers here are good.And I haven't noticed many incidents of light jumping while traveling around here. Ive noticed though that they tend to install cameras on major junctions.

One easier way is traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings. Keeps pedestrians safe and slows down traffic. As stated before people just don't use the bridges once they are built unless you spend 4 times the cost of the bridge on extra civil works to make the bridge the only option.

One other point,and it covers many threads, is, Qatar is NOT full of idiot drivers, there are a few granted but if you really want to see a land full of idiots behind the wheel,spend a little time in Saudi,the roads here are heaven compared to there!

how about putting fence and bridge ... ?

the fact is very few people in Doha use the bridges over or under in Doha even if it is there. I remember there was an overbridge near Ras Aboud next o Aboobakar Siddiq mosque for almost 20 years and I have seen only very few use that bridge to cross the road.

There is also an underpass near Town center, there also you find very few ppl using that facility.

my australian friend paralyzed because his motorbike hitting a pedestrian who just jump in front of him in the junction. This happened few years ago just outside KEO building by toyota traffic light.

I agree Alexa.

It's a miracle that there aren't more deaths outside Lulu every evening as people stroll (not run, but amble in a leisurely fashion) across D-Ring while carrying their shopping.

It's suicidal.

I have very nearly hit pedestrians in this country who walk across the road without any regard for their own safety, and were I (or you or anyone else) to injure them, there is no legal defense. If you hit a pedestrian, you are at fault. It's that simple.

The construction of overpasses and the like will at least remove the notion that no viable, safe means exist to cross the road. But that isn't going to ensure that people cease crossing the road like lunatics.

Hmm.. And people thought I was kidding when I said.. train the pedestrians...

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Reality is a Illusion Caused Due to Deficiency of Alcohol

I live at al wakra and am witness to many accidents including one today afternoon at around 2.30but not sure if it was this one[!!!]I am sick to my bones watching the number of fatalities ,..almost always involves [1] SUV,[2]Pick up,.This length of road sure does seem deadly,..Ideally we should have a safe pedestrian crossing machanism infront of every mosque located next to busy high ways like Wakra-Mesaieed road.This might help the hapless pedestrians . They are not always grocery shopping on the other side of the road but collecting cool drinking water frm the mosques as well. and while at pedestrian crossing, I have noticed Qatar Airways Captians and Air hostesses and staff dragging their trolleys across the main road,crossing road, near the airport signal.!?!?!?Why so!?!? this is a higly dangerous Russian Roulette to play before embarking on another trial on the dice of fate.

I think that everytime a pedestrian is killed by a speedy car the driver should spend 20 or 30 years in jail, if they do that a few times, the crasy drivers will think twice before speeding, they paye blood money (money is not a probleme, daddy will be there) the driving licence is taken for 3 or 4 months so what the driver will be there as well. they need to be punished very hard.

fubar is also right, back in my mother land, fences are everywhere, but few responsible pedestrians obey, some just ignore the reroute signs, but accidents are minimal.

"learn to let go of the things you are afraid to loose....

because you might get a better one."

Novitta - I didn start this time.... :)

Fubar - Another practical solution I see is....

Giving this Pedestrians Horns of Land Cruisers...

They can horn and the Grocery fellows are so used to come out when they hear tht...

m sure they mus be experts in crossing the roads...

they ll come the other side. and give this fellowz wht they want... :)

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Reality is a Illusion Caused Due to Deficiency of Alcohol

Exactly classy-nerd and Arms manufacturers should be forced to limit the speed of munitions exiting their weapons too. LOL. Then we would have a safe world!!

You are so right Novita.

There are so few pedestrian bridges in Doha, and the ones that do exist seem to be in places where there are no pedestrians, such as the one near the VIP roundabout near the airport.

Rather than building bridges, the general wisdom seems to be that we should just build fences to stop people from being able to cross the road, as though somehow people will find some alternative method to cross the road rather than crossing it...

I'm all for pedestrian over/underpasses, however we all know who will use them, and who won't use them, and from that we can probably conclude that they aren't high on a list of priorities for Ashgal.

no hijack please. Thank you.

Ashwindoke..chill out bro just kiddin,i can never risk my life to put u in a cage.loool

not married either :)

QatariBoy - lol... I am a free terrorist.... No one was ever able to put this tiger in a cage...

Not married yet :)

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Reality is a Illusion Caused Due to Deficiency of Alcohol

Thanx for ur solution Ashwindoke,now get back in the cage.......loooooool

Well, excatly. Somebody needs to wispher something to the very top level before this pedestrian bridge kind of things could happens. The safety attitude seems now is just to let it happens akin these idiots drivers who needs some kind of moral educations. But then why should they care for all these mnigrants workers killed on the road rather than their contributions in terms of the economic gains.

Hmmm...

The Solutions we know.. don work in Qatar...

I really don know how things get done here...

If it was a "pseudo-Democracy" - You have a right to complain or bring it to the notico of Authority with a Sleek hope something ll happen.. and I have done my bit to change this world for better...

Here ????????

Only soln I see... teach people how to cross the road carefully...... :(

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Reality is a Illusion Caused Due to Deficiency of Alcohol

Hey guys, it is not about the drivers we're talking about,

it's about the bridge.

reckless drivers you're talking about qatariboy is not innocent,

the theme of these thread is for innocent ones..

to be compassionate to them.

"learn to let go of the things you are afraid to loose....

because you might get a better one."

I dont think Ashgal has time to build even one bridge,they are buzy diggin up roads everwhere :)

oh well ... this is Qatar Living, I live in Qatar for the past 8 years (so Qatar is my concern), if you want to discuss pedestrian knock over in another countries go their website accordingly ....

did any1 here ever realise...

arent da car manufacturers to blame for including such speeds in cars, dat provided u reach 140kmph..there is no possible way if u collide somfink..n still stay unhurt !

pedestrian deaths is not just a Qatar issue novita..

we face it everywea...

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I express myself through hyperactivity and disruption. I wanted to play rather than study.

all the years I been in Qatar, there is no controlling idiot drivers. An idiot/s will not change, they will always be an idiot/s. Time to protect the pedestrians.

Im really sorry Xena.what i meant is,those reckless drivers are everywhere u go whether it is a highway or even in neighbourhood,u cannot really avoid them.so,every 500m we need abridge,can u imagine that the whole country with bridges?no matter how much awareness we deliver to drivers,nothing chnges.i hope i do make sense now :(

First off though, they need to control the idiot drivers.

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Man makes plans...............God smiles ;-)

this thread. What do bridges have to do with changing yourself?

Ever tried crossing a road here? Its a harrowing experience. Pedestrian bridges would go a long way in curbing sad accidents like this.

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

visit www.qaws.org

Glad to see this important subject raised here. I hope the bridges are built soon.

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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

how many bridges do we need here in the country??things will not change unless people themselves change.

That is tragic!! Really!

Whatever you vividly imagine, Ardently desire, Sincerely believe and Enthusiastically act upon, Must inevitably come to pass.

So sad.

Makes you wonder how many accidents like this happen every day, that we never hear about.

With all the huge projects all around us, it seems like it would be such a simple thing to include a pedestrian bridge. Why not make the developers of public buildings, malls, etc responsible for a pedestrian bridge in order to get their plan approved?

:-(

Qatari / Ahmad, can you make a poll for the cross bridge please? Hopefully somebody who works for Asghal and reading QL see the poll.

You are right novita, let us make QL more meaningful, lets be more compassionate!

1 vote for Wakra cross bridge (Over Pass)

"learn to let go of the things you are afraid to loose....

because you might get a better one."

a few years ago my company offer to build a pedastrian bridge in west bay across the road outside of city centre. Ashgal refused saying it was their business and they had a plan.... still no bridge and I wonder how many people have to die crossing that road before its annoucned in a paper that wonderful Ashgal has provided a bridge so no more people die...