Traffic department's new smart cams to catch offenders
Common traffic violations like use of mobile phones while driving, wrong overtaking and failure to fasten seat belts will now be captured in smart cameras with the Ministry of Interior launching a new and extensive surveillance system.
The project named "Talaa" aims to promote traffic safety by detecting all types of violations specified in the traffic law, the Ministry said yesterday.
Smart cameras are being installed on roads and highways across the country that are monitored from a central control room.
The project has been launched by the Central Operations Department of the National Command Center at the Ministry in collaboration with the General Directorate of Traffic and General Directorate of Information Systems (Security Systems Department).
The Traffic Department had earlier pinpointed the most common traffic violations as use of mobile phones while driving, not wearing seat belts and overtaking from right.
The surveillance cameras on roads and intersections have so far been used to detect only two major violations — speeding and jumping signals. The other violations were being monitored by traffic patrols deployed in select areas.
"This (the new project) will contribute to tightening security control in all parts of the country, ease traffic movement and monitor traffic violations in time," the ministry said in a statement.
The smart cameras will also detect speeding, low speed, jumping signals and other violations "that pose a threat to public safety," explained the Director of Central Operations Department at National Command Center Col Sayeed Hasan Al Mazrou.
More than 23,000 violations were detected during a trial run of the project conducted last month. Most of them were due to mistakes of the drivers.
He said all the cameras can be controlled from the operations room which monitors violations by zooming vehicles and capturing the numbers plates as well as the location.
Owners of the vehicles will then be informed about the violations by text messages sent through Metrash to avoid any embarrassment while renewing road permits. [The Peninsula]
The law will not apply to everyone, especially those with dark tinted windows.
The damned steering wheel is on the wrong side for starters :o(
Most of the time right lane is empty so keep your car there, no one will tailgate you and trust me you will save time ;)
Most of the time right lane is empty so keep your car there, no one will tailgate you and trust me you will safe time ;)
Since the speed limit on the "Express Way" has been reduced to 80 km/h I always drive on the right lane with 80 km/h. Funny enough, the cars in the middle lane are creeping along at 60 km/h or so. And this is not 'overtaking', this is'passing'.
They don't know that in Qatar you drive on the right. They come from countries where the British left their funny habit of driving on the wrong side of the road. So actually, blame the British!
Many expats drive on fast line even when all the lines on the right are empty! No one will ever tailgate you if you can't move out of the line, there must be some space on the right side, actually more then enough space!
hahahahhha...whats the problem in tailgating ?
When you get a chance ..You also tailgate ..
I have on many occasions shown high beam lights to locals on fast lane & they are generous enough to give way ...
The answer is simple. Don't give licenses to expats
Why would those 'poor' expats block the right of others? community policing? law enforcing? dear expat rider 100kmph might be the fastest speed you could see on your meter and it doesn't mean you guys can block some one wants to travel faster. I'm an expat and i see locals are driving better than most of the expat law enforcers. you just don't get into the middle of where they are going. land cruisers or SUV's are not 'transformers' to change the shape when approaching those who are going on 60 where the speed limit is 100kmph. As a matter of fact, Every headlight high beams are aimed higher than low beams and and will be clearly visible when turned on at any distance. Stop complaining and contribute. if you want to be within limits and drive carefully, choose another free track. it will definitely make difference rather than getting some one tail gating furiously and you drive like Fire @ your tail.
Tailgating is illegal. Just ignore the tailgaters until it is safe to change lane. However if the road is 100 km/hr. try to stay in the middle lane. Driving slower than the normal traffic is dangerous also, especially if you stay on the fastest lane.
What about tail lighting? Is it not a violation. An expat driver drives at 100kmph with road speed limit of 100kmph at extreme left lane, than suddenly big man comes with his landcruizer and start to fire his light . Poor expat is at risk of accident to cross the lane and in that process who is at fault and why there is no such law imposed ?