Poor Planning of Traffic Police
Every time there is an event in Doha, no matter how small it is, as long as it requires the use of public roads, there is always a terrible traffic chaos.
Traffic police actions are limited to bar the access to a particular road (often the Corniche)with their cars and do not bother or consider any planning and announcement of alternative routes. These alternative routes should be prepared for the greater influx of traffic, well signaled and the police should be there to facilitate the diversion.
Recently it happened when the demonstration for Palestine took place and again yesterday, during the opening of the Doha Tour. 30 minutes was the time to go from city centre round about to the Sheraton roundabout, just to be forced to turn back to the initial point and not knowing where to go after!!!
Is this inability to think and plan or just the total non consideration for the public?
Even in very poor countries, I have witnessed traffic diversion, signaled and publicly announced!!!
I wonder if in case of an emergency, how can the rescue means can be quickly brought in to where there are needed?
How much would cost the police to study alternative routes, signal them properly, publish these routes in the local papers a few days in advance and direct traffic to those alternative routes?
How many hours and unnecessary stress would the police save to the inhabitants of Doha?
i never heard that olympics was ever held in doha... when was that?
anyway, i think you meant was asian games...
First of all, yes we could have had notice of the race etc, etc. But it happened last year and the year before, so why the shock?
Also, there was a burst water pipe on the Corniche road that night; call me old fashioned, they could not have predicted that!
Live with it, this is a small place for the number of the population and most houses have 4 cars. Asian countries are far worse than this and why in the UK do we have the congestion charge if at times traffic was so bad people turned back!
Yeah was real bad near the corniche the other afternoon. Took 45 minutes from West Bay to industrial area to pick up H3 from GM service. Then left industrial area at about 5/5:30, got home at 8.
Actually, Hu Wan, I believe that Qatar is changing at unprecendented speed and that is part of the chaos we see. I live here because I love the liveliness and the pace of change. But sometimes my impatience rules ...
Mandi
Mandi, what did Edmund Burke said? "all that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing". Just replace evil with poor planning. We reap what we sow. If you've been here for a while you will remember there was no qmatic in govt. offices before. Everybody tries to be first in line. It was chaos! Qatar can change and will change albeit excruciatingly slow...
yano_08,
I have stayed here long enough to have realized what Mandilulur implied, but not yet long enough to surrender and stay quite.
;)
i guess one should stay long enough... to grasp reality here :P
what else is new??
Planning? Forethought? Good journalism? I must have the wrong country ...
Mandi
Reading in the Qatar Tribune:
Today (Monday) the cycling race route will be from Khalifa Stadium to the AL KHOR corniche.
It doesn't give any timings of when the race starts however.
I guess we all need to just stay home today! Unfortunately that is not always an option.
All they need to no is install a few more VMS (variable message signs) around doha advising motorists of any event and the alternative routes in advance, with advice of avoiding that area..
Not just diverting traffic at the last moment..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
I just wish some Qatari with influence and/or Journalist will read this and get inspired to suggest these improvement actions to the police department.
I have been to a police station, to suggest improvements and I left with a bitter feeling that I wasted my time!
i knew that many ladies call their hus. late in evening and told i don't know where i am standing now bec. they know only one root to their home and the trafiic was diverted to left, right, up and down. i was expecting a call too.thank god she reached.
in dubai they will announce this new paper and net
Effective Traffic Management is almost not existence in this country. Just putting a few cones for diversion getting you off the main Road then you find your own way..Especially events are not advertised and no proper diversions are provided..
Good point Lusitano..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Balme it on the roads..They need to have wider raods with more lanes
of a traffic congestion yesterday on my way home. Yes didn't get any advisory on which roads have been diverted and alternate roads to take. Or perhaps I missed it? They could've simply coordinated with Radio Qatar and made some announcements with updates on the traffic situation. As simple as that. Traffic policing here is like on a per problem basis. Ever noticed their absence on key intersections and roundabouts on heavy traffic hours? Their presence on these spots would impact immediately on any traffic buildup if ever. Even Schumacher wannabe's would be discouraged if they see a patrol car on standby. Well, closure of major roads don't happen often here and authorities have plenty of time to think and make plans. Traffic management is not rocket science I think but just common sense. I'm glad that the weather was very nice yesterday so I actually enjoyed the traffic. Don't sweat the small stuff thing. :)
Babba...We too should have cycled...would have reached earlier.
lol babba....
why they always choose this busy cornich road for all events. yesterday there was a cycle rally i think. they were cycling and we were suffering to find way to home!
Kimd,
The traffic is chaotic, as drivers are trying (on their own guesses) to find a way out of the chaos.
A negligent attitude shown by the Traffic Police, as we all often experience, does not help!
I believe that with a bit of planning and rearrangements would certainly improve things!
Red Pope,
Yes, unfortunately I was here during the Asian Games, and again it proved that Traffic police do a very poor job.
Even with the chaotic road system and useless roundabout, planning ahead would sure produce better results!!!!
Good morning, RP!
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
RP..It was not Olympics...Asian Games
when was the olympics held here?
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"The grass is always greener...over the Septic Tank"
I really do wish they would announce these special road closures. During the Olympics I simply stayed in my house for days. Only went to the neighborhood food stuff store for essentials. yesterday I left Al Ahli Hospital after visiting a friend and headed toward home, usually a 10 minute trip. It took me an hour thanks to the police.
Where you here during the Olympics? it was worst.......
WTH was going on Croniche yesterday 3.30 PM. It took almost 2 hours to reach my home normally it takes only 20 minutes drive..
Good point but the roads of Doha are already so congested that it wouldn't matter what the authorities do, moving the traffic to other roads just creates more chaos and traffic jams there too.
I ,too, wonder what would happen in the event of an emergency, especially around the Sheraton and City centre area on a weekend- it's chaotic at the best of times.
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May your dreams take you travelling all through your life.