Misleading speed limit sign on Najma Street
Motorists have raised concern over a “misleading” speed limit signage along the Najma Street, which they said could be a potential road hazard.
The signage is just beside the Woqod petrol station along the Najma Street. When coming from the C-Ring Road, a 60km/h speed limit signboard greets motorists as they exit the nearby roundabout leading towards the Nuaija Intersection along the D-Ring Road.
However, just barely a hundred metres after the 60km/h signage, an 80km/h speed limit sign together with a camera icon on top is also posted as drivers approach the Nuaija Intersection.
“It should be the other way around,” said a Nigerian taxi driver at the Woqod petrol station.
The taxi driver explained that as motorists exited the roundabout, it would be logical to speed up to 80km/h and then slow down to 60km/h as their vehicles approach the D-Ring Road.
But he also observed that even if the road signs were interchanged, accelerating to 80km/h while exiting a traffic circle was “very dangerous” since the upcoming intersection was only about 200m away from the small roundabout.
“Driving at around 60km/h or even a little slower would be a moderate and safe speed to take since motorists should always proceed with caution when entering or exiting roundabouts,” he added.
Another motorist, who was also at the petrol station to get his car washed, said the “misleading” road signs could serve as a safety hazard making the small roundabout and nearby traffic signal accident-prone areas.
“Vehicular movement in this area is constant and busy. During rush hour or when there are many motorists going to Woqod, the petrol station’s entrance along Najma Street becomes a bottleneck,” he said.
He stressed that vehicles exiting the roundabout were prone to hitting other cars entering the petrol station. “There are times when long queues would build up inside the petrol station and they would even extend outside towards the main road.”
Attendants at the petrol station, however, said only occasional minor accidents occurred along the area. But the driver cautioned that the misleading signage still remained as “a potential accident waiting to happen”.
While the motorist agreed that most residents could already be familiar of the Najma Street, he emphasised that there was an increasing number of newly-licensed drivers still trying to familiarise themselves with the routes.
“These beginners are either excited or nervous as they start driving along the major roads and their inexperience or unfamiliarity with the routes, demeanour, and even road signs can be dangerous to themselves and other motorists,” he stressed.
Gulf Times | Photo by Jidhu Jose
should be: ..... *only a handful of people:... sorry... redundant... ^_^
it's fine really.... only a few handful people is posting sense here... I miss khalli.... ;)
lol i can't tell you how silly i feel later, when i come back to these threads and see my long crazy rants and everyone else has left a one liner and moved on with their lives haha..very sorry guys for the madness..until next topic, when normal service will resume :-)
kiwi: lol! ...... and mohdata is on rant mood! 'yallah habibi go!
dominic: confirmed, under 80 and you'll never be fined..
Oh, so those little round signs with numbers on are speed limit signs? I don't think anyone knows this, nor cares.
Thank you, hassan97, for the helpful information stating that no radar cameras in Qatar are set to go off under 80 kph. Can anyone else confirm this?
no wonder the locals are frustrated with expat driving; and trust me, everyone says Qataris drive like maniacs right? I say they are MUCH better drivers than most of us expats; 8 Qataris out of ten will safely deal with a high speed tire blow-out while 8 out of ten expats will end up wrapped around the nearest lamp post.
seriously guys, anyone who read that news and agreed it was a silly signage system should feel very embarrassed and re-evaluate their awareness of driving and traffic rules; the traffic police are going to have their heads in their hands when they read this news in the papers. Because, they now officially have no hope if this is the highly informed and aware traffic that they're managing. God am I pissed off now. I've heard they're going to hire expats in the police force and i only hope the eligibility rules let me get in and quit my crappy Finance career. I don't need a nice patrol car; just give me the badge and let me stand at the intersections/roundabouts and I'll set this lot straight.
what is wrong with people????? Was this actually in the newspaper? Yes, its 60 near the petrol station; and then back to 80 once you're past; what part of that do we not understand? Do you want the traffic signal also to be recalibrated to 60 because you were asked to keep it to 60 until you crossed the petrol station?? A stretch of road does not HAVE to have one uniform limit; it could be 100, then 60 for a petrol station, then 10 for a school entrance and then back to 100; follow it. God the numbness; what has happened to this country? Its like even the SIMPLEST of things are a problem and the solution s have to spoon fed to these babies.
There is another one in the Airport road when you are coming back from wakra to old airport
there is 3 signs 80 and then one 50 with speed camera just after the last 80!
In Qatar where ever you see a radar even if you are not aware of the speed limit you can go up to 80km/h because there is no radar in Qatar that is set to a speed limit below 80km/h.