Traffic management
Dear Sir,
The report, “Same signal duration sought for straight and left lanes at intersections” (Gulf Times, October 1), tackled an important traffic issue.
It is commonly accepted that in an intersection, the traffic should be handled on a first-come, first-served basis with some exceptions depending on the rush.
There are certain Doha roads like Al Waab Street and Suhaim Bin Hamad Street where the traffic flow goes on and on for a long time on the main roads while motorists wait helplessly on the side roads wondering when they will get the green signal!
On Al Rayyan Road, if you want to turn left to Suhaim Bin Hamad Street from Gulf Interchange (previously known as the Mannai roundabout), you really have to be extremely patient.
Similarly, many people coming from the Hamad Hospital go to the Sports Roundabout and take a U-turn to come to the LuLu centre side.
Traffic management is a science and, I’m sure, authorities in Qatar are doing a fine job but still it requires a human touch. In this context, the Gulf Times report was relevant.
J J Kumar
PO Box 20561
Doha
Intersections need countdown timers
Dear Sir,
I have read a report in a Dubai newspaper recently that Ajman has seen a zero accident rate at intersections with the introduction of the countdown traffic light system there.
The Ajman police, in co-operation with the Ajman municipality, are installing the traffic countdown system on 95% of the emirate’s intersections, according to the report. It was first introduced in the emirate four years ago.
The report quoted a police official as saying that “traditional signals regulate when vehicles stop and go at traffic intersections but do not provide information as to when the signal will change to green or red. This lack of information results in unnecessary stops and starts that reduce traffic efficiency - thus road congestion and driver frustration”.
The official felt that the traffic signal countdown system provided “safe and reliable solutions to these everyday problems”.
Qatar also should consider introducing the countdown traffic light system to avoid accidents at intersections.
Devendra Rana
[email protected]
