Using a mobile phone while driving was one of the main causes of accidents on Qatari roads, a top official of the Traffic Department has said.
Traffic Department officials during a discussion at the Police Training Institute
Brigadier Mohammed Saad al-Kharji, director of the Traffic Department, was speaking at a discussion held at the Police Training Institute (PTI) headquarters on traffic issues on Sunday.
Also speaking at the discussion, PTI director Colonel Dr. Mohammed Mahanna al-Murri said that traffic accidents were mostly caused by speeding, not fastening seatbelts and using mobile phone, leading to great losses, including loss of lives and economic loss for public and private sectors.
Brigadier al-Kharji said that the Traffic Department was planning to install advanced radar systems to record accidents and to book reckless drivers.
The Traffic Department director said that the department is working towards reduction of accidents as it monitors various roads at various times and implements awareness programmes in association with the public relations department at the Ministry of Interior.
He advised the youth not to drive recklessly as it would expose themselves and others to risks.
“The Traffic Department is concentrating on reduction of accidents through wide awareness campaign and numbers show that it has improved the situation,” said Brigadier al-Kharji.
In the open discussion, al-Kharji said that red signals can be crossed only to make way for ambulances and official convoys, and in cases where the police ask you to do so.
He also said that no one is above the rules and the traffic law is implemented for
everyone.
Regarding the use of window tinting, the director said that it can be fixed only for those with a medical report saying that he or she cannot be exposed to sunlight due to some disease. “For that, permits shall be obtained,” he added.
He said that slow driving, specially on two-lane roads, block the flow of traffic and warned that those drivers will be booked instantly for traffic violation.
The director also cautioned against stopping on yellow boxes at intersections.