The ongoing plans and programmes being implemented as part of the National Traffic Safety Strategy has taken the traffic safety in Qatar to higher levels, a top official has said.
The National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) secretary general Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah al-Malki was speaking at the conference on traffic accidents and road safety on Wednesday.
Maintaining that Qatar is one of the leading countries in implementing superior levels of traffic safety management, the official said it has been possible only because of the effective plans in improving and strengthening road infrastructure, and implementing better transport services.
"At the end of the first National Traffic Safety Strategy (2013-17), there was a reduction of nearly 62% in the number of fatalities in road traffic accidents. The figures showed there were 5.4 accidents per 100,000 people at the end of the first phase."
Brigadier al-Malki said in the ongoing second phase of the strategy there has been further improvement in traffic safety and proper follow up is being done at all levels.
The official said the NTSC had recommended the building of a safe and sustainable transport system in the country. "We have made recommendations at regular intervals in co-ordination with the Office of Traffic Safety".
Brigadier al-Malki said the overall improvement in traffic safety is because of such initiatives as the formation of task forces to support the working groups on reducing traffic congestion, effective studies and subsequent investigation into road traffic accidents, spreading better awareness and information among the residents, installation of optical signals through the setting up of a centralised control system, improving mass transit services, introduction of better taxis and improving safety features of the school buses.
Brigadier al-Malki pointed out the recommendations also included the establishment of a specialised government unit for reducing traffic congestion and the preparation of a national plan to follow up the issue.
The NTSC official said the system of monitoring and identification of the responsible forums and institutions for preparing proper and effective programmes, the preparation of a plan for the transportation of personnel and goods, expediting the implementation of better pedestrian crossings, improving the efficiency of road maintenance among others have also contributed to an overall improvement in traffic system across the country.
The NTSC secretary general also highlighted the necessity of training effective and efficient cadres for ensuring better traffic safety, proper follow up in the road accident deaths in municipal and high traffic areas, establishment of a specialised unit for traffic safety operations to address various traffic related issues and improving the efficiency of the road networks.
