HE Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, Qatar’s Minister of Defence, at the 30th Gulf Traffic Week yesterday. RIGHT: Wrecked vehicles displayed at the entrance of the venue.PICTURES : Joey Aguilar


By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter



Hundreds of students from various schools in Qatar trooped to the Darb Al Saai ground yesterday morning for the 30th Gulf Traffic Week, an event which aims to raise public awareness on road and traffic safety through a series of activities and programmes.
A number of interactive games, short lectures and briefings were held at the venue to educate the students and other visitors on traffic safety.
Themed ‘Your Safety is Our Goal’, Gulf Traffic Week highlighted the danger of speeding and “unsafe” behaviour on the road.
“This exhibition is very important for school children. We have to teach and remind them to use seat belts at all times because seat belts can save lives,” said HE Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, Qatar’s Minister of Defence, who toured each of the exhibits while providing photo opportunities with young school children, teachers and other attendees.
Also stressing the dangers of speeding, he noted that both the young generation and adults should be well briefed and knowledgeable on road safety.
Minister al-Attiyah also lauded the “well-organised festival” being held at a large venue.
Some exhibitors organised games where children get to identify using visuals on the wall at least one of 10 “safe behaviours” while on the road. They were also given the chance to watch an audio-video presentation which portrays the life of road accident victims.
One area in the venue was dedicated to drawings and paintings by students focusing on the theme.
The ‘Kulluna For Health and Safety’ also invites visitors to its own unique booth in a shipping container as it campaigns for its slogan ‘Help to keep your children safe’.
A global status report on road safety was posted on one of the exhibitors’ wall, citing how reduced speed can save lives.
Among the exhibitors included driving schools, gas companies, hospitals and clinics, car companies and some government agencies.   
Amjad al-Balushi, a Health, Safety and Environment member of the United Development Company, reiterated the importance of educating the public on road safety through the Gulf Traffic Week.
At the event, he briefed visitors on equipment (speed gun) they use to monitor speeding vehicles and measures to check LPG cylinders to prevent fire and explosions.
At the entrance, three totally-wrecked vehicles, two SUVs and one sedan, were displayed to show how bad accidents caused by speeding can be.
There were a selection of indoor and outdoor activities such as rifle shooting, police dog show, musical and theatrical events, safe desert bicycle rally and the traffic village.
While food and drink is available at stalls, chapati and karak was the favourite snack at the event which concludes today.





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