Universities, schools join safety awareness quiz

Some 76 academic institutions, comprising high schools and universities, have participated in a traffic safety awareness contest organised by Qatar University’s Qatar Road Safety Studies Centre (QRSSC). The competition was part of an awareness campaign on pedestrian safety launched by QRSSC in line with UN Week for Safety on Roads commemorated on May 6-12 earlier this year.The competition included three categories: best video (universities), best article (secondary and preparatory schools) and best poster (primary schools). A total of 90 students participated and 76 entries were submitted which included 16 from universities, 20 from secondary, 30 from primary and 10 from preparatory schools.At the awards ceremony held last week, QU students Merna Ammar and Alaa Shehada were named winners of the best video, followed by Irfan Mansoor and Rehan Feliz Pinto of Stenden University; and Ibrahim Arar and Ihab Meqdad of QU. An award decided by the centre was presented to Ahmed al-Mukhtar and Khalifa al-Merri also of QU.Best article (secondary) winners were Jassim Bin Hamad Secondary Independent School for Boys and Ahmed Bin Hanbal Secondary Independent School for Boys while Hamza Bin Abdullmutallib Preparatory School for Boys, and Osama Bin Zaid Preparatory School for Boys won in the category for preparatory schools. Al Tha’ayen Primary Independent School for Girls and Umm Al Ammad Primary School for Girls won Best Poster (primary).The winners were celebrated at the ceremony, which was attended by QRSSC director Dr Khalifa al-Khallifa, QU vice president for research Dr Hassan al-Derham, and vice president for academic affairs Dr Mazen Hasna, Traffic Department director Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, National Committee for Traffic Safety general secretary Mohamed al-Malki, QU College of Engineering dean Dr Rashid al-Ammari, a number of CENG members and representatives from Maersk Oil. In his speech, Dr al-Khalifa stressed the importance of road safety in terms of driver and pedestrian welfare and the role of the centre to continue to raise awareness throughout the community, especially among young drivers. “Maersk Oil’s role in this competition is highly appreciated and we are looking forward to further co-operation,” he added. Maersk Oil deputy managing director Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad al-Thani said: “I am pleased to see yet another meaningful collaboration between Maersk Oil and Qatar University. Road Safety is paramount to all of us and engaging and instilling the youth with a sense of responsibility and involving them in the solution is necessary. I am grateful to the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Ministry of Interior who supported this initiative under its highly successful ‘one-second national road safety communication platform’.”Brigadier al-Kharji said: “I highly appreciate the efforts of QU and Maersk Oil to organise this event which raises the awareness of traffic safety for students and youth. Such events cement relations between QU and the Traffic Department towards more joint activities and initiatives”.Al-Malki stressed the committee’s strong relations with QU and called for more projects in line with the National Strategy for Road Traffic Safety.