The number of deaths from road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Qatar in 2016 fell 21.6% compared to the previous year, figures released by the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Traffic on Wednesday showed.
RTAs claimed a total of 227 lives in 2015, but the number dropped to 178 in 2016 - 94.9% of them were men. The total number of RTAs also fell by 7.8% in 2016 compared to the previous year, even though there was a 4% rise in the total number of vehicles in 2016.
"The fall in RTA deaths is due to the stringent enforcement of the traffic rules and regulations, the effective use of advanced signalling equipment and installation of radars across the country," Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, director general of the General Directorate of Traffic, told a meeting.
There were no injuries in approximately 97.5% of the accidents that Qatar witnessed in 2016. While the average number of RTA deaths in Qatar per 100,000 was 5.5, the global average is around 17.4%, which is 68.4% higher than the local average, the directorate said.
As many as 66 drivers (37.1%) were among those killed in the RTAs. The casualties included 57 pedestrians (32%) and 55 passengers (30.9%).
Studies showed that speeding claimed 12 lives and left 15 seriously injured while wrong overtaking caused three deaths and 16 injuries. Lack of discipline among drivers resulted in 14 deaths and 53 serious and 466 minor injuries.
Jumping signals led to one death and 23 serious and 286 minor injuries. Drivers' failure to keep safe distance caused six deaths and 68 serious and 1323 minor injuries.
While the authorities attributed reckless driving and negligence as the main cause for 108 fatal cases, owing to the same reasons, commuters sustained 388 major and 2,228 minor injuries.
Overturning of vehicles accounted for 12.1% of the major crashes while 11.5% of the accidents involved running over the victims. Almost two-thirds (66.7%) of the major RTAs were from collision between two vehicles, and such accidents also claimed 67 lives and left 336 with serious and 3,674 minor injuries.
Rollover accidents resulted in 27 deaths and left 119 seriously injured and 591 with minor injuries. Run-over accidents claimed 48 lives and left 151 seriously injured and 501 with minor injuries.
"The fall in RTA deaths is due to the stringent enforcement of the traffic rules and regulations, the effective use of advanced signalling equipment and installation of radars across the country," Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, director general of the General Directorate of Traffic, told a meeting.
There were no injuries in approximately 97.5% of the accidents that Qatar witnessed in 2016. While the average number of RTA deaths in Qatar per 100,000 was 5.5, the global average is around 17.4%, which is 68.4% higher than the local average, the directorate said.
As many as 66 drivers (37.1%) were among those killed in the RTAs. The casualties included 57 pedestrians (32%) and 55 passengers (30.9%).
Studies showed that speeding claimed 12 lives and left 15 seriously injured while wrong overtaking caused three deaths and 16 injuries. Lack of discipline among drivers resulted in 14 deaths and 53 serious and 466 minor injuries.
Jumping signals led to one death and 23 serious and 286 minor injuries. Drivers' failure to keep safe distance caused six deaths and 68 serious and 1323 minor injuries.
While the authorities attributed reckless driving and negligence as the main cause for 108 fatal cases, owing to the same reasons, commuters sustained 388 major and 2,228 minor injuries.
Overturning of vehicles accounted for 12.1% of the major crashes while 11.5% of the accidents involved running over the victims. Almost two-thirds (66.7%) of the major RTAs were from collision between two vehicles, and such accidents also claimed 67 lives and left 336 with serious and 3,674 minor injuries.
Rollover accidents resulted in 27 deaths and left 119 seriously injured and 591 with minor injuries. Run-over accidents claimed 48 lives and left 151 seriously injured and 501 with minor injuries.
