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Pedestrians to pay fines up to QR500 for violating traffic law from August
In a bid to ensure road safety for all, the General Directorate of Traffic said it will start imposing fines against pedestrians who fail to abide by the traffic guidelines from August.
The announcement came during an educative seminar on the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians organized by the directorate at its headquarters.
The seminar aimed to encourage pedestrians to follow the relevant guidelines, under the Traffic Law, when walking on the country’s roads.
Lt. Ibrahim Zaid Al-Marri, Legal officer at Traffic Directorate explained the articles of the Traffic Law about the responsibilities of pedestrians while walking and crossing the roads. He also pointed out the fines to be imposed on them in case of a violation. #MoIQatar pic.twitter.com/7V7rmEpZAj
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) July 21, 2019
The directorate urged pedestrians to cross the road only at designated areas in addition to being alert.
Pedestrians are asked to avoid engaging in other activities while crossing the roads.
Moreover, pedestrians should make use of the nearest pedestrian crossing such as footbridges, the directorate stressed. They should also cross the road only when the pedestrian traffic light is green.
According to the authorities, if pedestrians violate the law, they may face penalties of QR100, QR200, and QR500, depending on the severity of the offense.
The violations will be registered against the ID card numbers of the violators of the traffic law.
Top officials from the directorate as well as the Traffic Awareness Department and other officers and representatives from different companies and communities in Qatar participated in the event.
Assistant director of the Traffic Awareness Department, Lt Col Jaber Mohamed Odeiba said there is a need to create a pedestrian traffic culture that conforms to the provisions of the Traffic Law.
“We have to ensure that pedestrians are using crosswalks or footbridges to cross the road, while motorists are respecting the rights of pedestrians and helping them cross the road safely even in the absence of a traffic signal and on internal roads,” he said.
Furthermore, the seminar highlighted three types of penalties in this regard:
1. When pedestrians walk along the middle of the carriageway, and do not use the pavement(s) or do not use the far edge of the carriageway opposite the direction of driving, in the absence of pavements, they will be fined QR100.
2. The pedestrians who do not take the obligatory precautions or do not use designated spots to cross the road will face a fine of QR200.
3. If pedestrians do not follow traffic signals while crossing at an intersection or when the Traffic Police allows vehicles to move, they will be fined QR500. The same penalty will apply to pedestrians who break through military parades and processions.
According to officials, special patrols will monitor the roads to check for violations by pedestrians.
Traffic cameras will be used to check if motorists are violating traffic rules on pedestrian safety.
According to MOI, the seminar is part of its Accident-free Summer Campaign that aims to raise public awareness on traffic rules
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Who will pay for pedestrians if there is no foot path available beside the roads.?
In many places i witness no clear walkway available for pedestrians, especially at the places where the road works are going on.