Over 51,000 cases for over-speeding, 6,700 for jumping red signals in last six months
Qatar has been coming down heavily on unruly drivers on the road, catching and punishing them with hefty fines and black mark against their licenses.
Qatar’s traffic department has also been conducting many awareness campaigns, as a result of which the number of accidents in the country in June came down by 7.6% compared to the previous month.
The General Directorate of Traffic, which has been running a campaign titled ‘Accident-Free Summer,’ will this week focus on the risks of over-speeding and jumping red signals.
#TheGeneralDirectorateOfTraffic held a press conference today morning to announce the details of the fifth week's activities of the ongoing "accident-free summer" awareness campaign. The campaign focuses this week on the dangers of overspeeding and crossing signal #Moiqatar pic.twitter.com/9OuMLPRt3E
The two violations are among the most common reasons for road accidents and fatalities.
Statistics released by the office showed an increase in the number of speeding violations. While 51,000 motorists were caught for over-speeding, around 6,700 of them were penalised for jumping the red signal at crossings, reported Gulf Times.
Speaking at the press conference, Capt. Mohammed Misfer Al Hajri, Head of Traffic Planning, said that both speeding and red-signal crossing are major causes of road accidents and have a severe negative impact on the lives and property of people. #moiqatar pic.twitter.com/wDWTesf8Fu
Speaking about it, Captain Mohamed Misfer Al Hajri, the head of Traffic Planning section at the Roads Engineering Department, said jumping red lights was considered as a deliberate attack on others.
“The offender has wilfully refused to obey an order given in the form of the red light to stop and facilitate the movement of traffic from the other side. Hence he/she will be held accountable.”
“I call upon all road users to be careful of committing these violations and request the media to cooperate in educating the public about these violations,” he was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.
He added that the aim of highlighting the two violations of over speeding and crossing the signal is to raise awareness of compliance with the laws in terms of violations, and prevent motorists from accidents, in order to maintain traffic safety. #moiqatar pic.twitter.com/JTInsvUMS8
Jumping a red signal will attract a fine of QR6,000 and seven minus points on the driver's licence, the official said.
Signals in the country have now turned smart. It will regulate traffic taking into account data from sensors placed across intersections about traffic flow. The capacity of roads are also taken into consideration, reported Qatar Tribune.
“Motorists shall undertake to observe automated traffic signals while driving. Even if the traffic light has turned green, a motorist may not move if such an act will disrupt or hinder traffic. In the event that a traffic police officer is directing traffic using hand signals, motorists shall comply with those signals and ignore the others,” said the official.
Col. Mohammed Radhi Al-Hajri, Director of Traffic Awareness and Media Department, stressed the importance of respecting the traffic rules. The violators of crossing red signal will be subject to a fine of 6,000 QR and 7 points. #moiqatar pic.twitter.com/9IzqSqpAnw
Pedestrians should follow traffic lights (if available) and signals given manually by traffic police personnel. Those found violating traffic rules will be caught and fined with QR500.
While vehicles cannot go over speed on the road, drivers of police cars, fire-fighting vehicles and ambulances are exempted from the rules, provided they use alarms and hazard lights to warn other drivers.
This is a request to authorized officers to take action against the high beam lights and white lights which really panics to others. These days special lights can be seen with special effect of low & high in different color (Purple, blue and white).
Thanks
Rightfully there should also be a fine for those drivers who try to run over you and provoke you when you are trying to stop at the signal..