Officials mark the initiative. Right: Driving instructors manning a road safety simulator at Souq Waqif.
A Ramadan campaign under way at Souq Waqif by Students for Road Safety, a programme funded by Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ), is enabling hundreds of people to learn about road safety in Qatar, according to a statement.
Advanced driving instructors are manning a road safety simulator throughout the holy month to offer advice and raise awareness about safe road behaviours.
Ramadan is traditionally a period when road accidents increase in Qatar. This activity at Souq Waqif has been organised in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior’s Traffic Department under the umbrella of the national road safety brand, One Second.
Lieutenant Fahad Mubarak al-Abdulla from the Traffic Department said: “This time of the year is unfortunately a period when road accidents increase, putting precious lives at risk. We are proud to continue our joint efforts with Maersk Oil Qatar and Students for Road Safety to address this challenge, particularly by targeting young people who are often at most risk.”
In the past two years, 4,500 students have been exposed to the Students for Road Safety programme that seeks to transform 12- to 18-year-olds into road safety ambassadors through interactive presentations and driving simulator training.
The road safety simulator used as part of Students for Road Safety, and positioned at Souq Waqif throughout Ramadan, is the “only one of its kind” in the Gulf region. It includes a full car cockpit, an advanced display system with wraparound screen and an artificial intelligence engine that reflects common behaviours on Qatar’s roads.
Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad al-Thani, deputy managing director of MOQ, said: “Sadly, too many people in Qatar are injured or killed in road accidents. Together with the Traffic Department, we are successfully raising awareness of this issue and encouraging positive behaviour change. I congratulate all those involved with the Ramadan campaign and encourage visitors to Souq Waqif to stop by and learn more.”
