In a bid for safer roads, Qatar is now increasing its radar visibility.
Traffic officials will be monitoring six roads to ensure that speeding, which often leads to accidents, is avoided. The six roads are Al Shamal, Dukhan Shahaniya, Salwa, Al Khor Coastal Road, Orbital Road and Airforce Street. The Qatar Traffic Department has placed mobile radars for the high risk areas.
The monitoring is an initiative of the Ministry of Interior to promote road safety. Besides speeding, the radars will catch seat beat violations, phone usage and overtaking from the wrong side of the road.
Qatar, while having an incredibly low crime rate, has a very high incidence of traffic violation and accident. More injuries and deaths are incurred in traffic violations than crimes. However, continued efforts from the government are showing positive results.
According to the statistics of the traffic management, there was a 31.7 percent decrease in violations last year. Based on records, 99,135 traffic violations happened from March to September 2017. Beating the red light, which carries a QR 6,000 penalty, happened 8,652 times.
According to the statistics of the traffic department, there was a 31.7 percent decrease of violations. Based on the records, 99,135 traffic violations happened from March to September 2017. Beating the red light, which carries a QR 6,000 penalty, occurred 8,652.
In terms of road deaths, 178 deaths were recorded in 2016, compared to 225 of 2015, for an overall decrease of 7.8 percent. The General Directorate of Traffic has targeted of 130 deaths due to traffic accidents by 2022.
In Qatar, a driving license is subject to a point system for violation. Once a driver reaches 14 points, his license will be suspended for three months. Repeat offenders will have lower thresholds and longer suspensions, and eventually, a license cancelation.
Major traffic violations and their fines include:
QR 1,500
- Driving with expired license
- Unauthorized altering of the color, shape of the number plate, details, loaning or exchange.
- If a motorcyclist or bicyclist does not hold the handle bar with both hands, drives on one wheel, tries to tow or carry objects which obstruct traffic and endanger others.
QR 3,000
- Driving an unregistered vehicle
- Driving without plates
- If transports vehicle drivers do not keep to the right side of the road or overtake.
- Driving a vehicle with dense smoke, noisy sounds, leaks, which can harm others or the environment.
QR 6,000
- Driving a vehicle in the wrong direction.
- Parking on an undesignated area. Un-allowed U-turn, reverse, turning or driving on the island.
- If a motorist does not abide by the manual signals provided by traffic police.
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