Ministry vows to continue crackdown on stunt driving on Qatar’s roads

A source in the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has asserted that the road safety campaign of the Traffic Department will continue as part of its efforts to save people’s lives, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported.

The source said the campaign would cover all areas of Qatar where youngsters were known to indulge in stunt driving. The vehicles used by the stunt drivers would be seized and suitable punishment, including imposition of fines, meted out in keeping with the law, according to the report.

The source also revealed that some parents had visited the Traffic Department and requested that the vehicles used by their sons be seized - in case of violations - as a proactive measure to prevent such dangerous motor sports. “This move reflects the parents’ understanding of the importance of MoI’s mission to fight the menace of illegal car shows and stunt driving,” the report said.

The issue of stunt driving and related hazards has come to the fore with the recent seizure of 175 vehicles in the New Industrial Area. The cars, as reported in another local daily Al Sharq, were being used to perform stunts by youngsters when a large number of law-enforcement officials reached the spot and stopped the proceedings.

The crackdown on Saturday morning was led by the Traffic Department and  involved the Rescue Police (Al Fazaa) and Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).

Sources, meanwhile, said the Traffic Department would start a campaign to track violating cars and rash drivers in order to prevent stunt driving and races on the streets of Qatar, according to Al Sharq. Information obtained by the daily suggested that the campaign would begin at the end of Ramadan.

Official sources confirmed that those already caught for such offences would face legal proceedings.

A large number of youths had gathered in the New Industrial Area to perform stunts with their cars or cheer others. They were caught unawares when the law-enforcement officials landed up, cordoning off the area and closing all exit routes so that none of the offenders could escape.