Errant drivers face tougher penalties...is this going to work???

Errant drivers face tougher penalties

Gulf Times, Published: Tuesday, 7 August, 2007, 01:53 AM Doha Time

Staff Reporter:

In a major move to curb the growing number of accidents and reckless driving on Qatar’s roads, the government yesterday promulgated a new Traffic Law, stipulating severe penalties for violators including a point system which would ultimately lead to the cancellation of a habitual offender’s driving licence.
Decree No 19 of 2007, issued by HH the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, said a driving licence may be suspended for three months when the total violations reached 14 points for the first time.
If the same person gathered 12 points again, his licence would be suspended for six months, nine months on the accumulation of the next 10 points and one year for the next eight points.
Ultimately, a driving licence may be cancelled if the same offender earned six points for the fifth time. And in this case, a new driving licence shall be issued only after he passed a new driving test.
However, the law said the earlier points in one’s account would be removed if that person did not commit any traffic violation during one year from the time his licence was revoked.
The penalty for using mobile phones while driving has been enhanced. The violator will have to pay a minimum fine of QR3,000 and a maximum fine of QR10,000. He is also liable for imprisonment up to one year.
Motorists who commit violations like driving with no authorised licence, driving under the influence of liquor, driving in the opposite direction of traffic flow, escaping from the accident site, causing sound and air pollution and exceeding the speed limit would be punishable by imprisonment from one month to three years or fined QR10,000 to 50,000 or both.
According to the new law, the punishment for the following offences are also the same as mentioned above: Not wearing seat belts, allowing children below 10 years sit in the front passenger seat, not giving way to official motorcades and the vehicles of the police, civil defence and ambulances, not leaving enough space between two vehicles and motorcyclists allowing another passenger sit behind them (pillion riding).
The law stipulates that the driver and the front seat passenger should wear seat belts all the time.
According to article 104, insurance companies refusing third party insurance would be punishable by a fine of QR10,000.
Article 66 of the new law says that in the event of an accident, the involved motorists should immediately call the police and render assistance to the injured. The motorists should not move their vehicles from the spot until the policeman arrived.
If there are no major injuries to the passengers or damage to the vehicles, the involved parties may move the vehicles to a nearby spot so that traffic flow is not affected.
Cyclists should keep to the right side of the road and should ride in one line. Motorcyclists are not allowed to ride on one wheel. Both should wear helmets.
Prior permissions should be sought before holding any type of races on the roads, the law said.
A national committee for traffic safety will be formed at the Interior Ministry with the aim of drafting the general policy concerning traffic rules, the decree said.

i wonder if this new law will work to all nationalities???