Driving in Qatar - A few things to keep in mind
Every now and then, drivers new to Qatar get into trouble with the authorities due to a lack of knowledge of the rules that one should follow while on road. So here is an introduction to driving in Qatar for those newbies.
Qatar’s road network is expanding at the same rapid pace as the rest of the country’s infrastructure. Wide, multi-lane highways are being developed, particularly in and around Doha, but there is a high per-capita fatal accident record compared to most other developed and developing nations.
Driving motorbikes is rare, as is cycling as a means of transport; this is as much to do with the extreme temperatures in the summer as well as the hazardous driving conditions on the road.
Traffic congestion can be an issue during peak hours and this, combined with a shortage of taxis and limited public transport services, which means it is not uncommon for Doha residents or their employers to hire drivers to get around the city.
Some basic driving rules and regulations for the newbies:
Drive on the right-hand side of the road.
The minimum legal age for driving a car is 18.
It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. You could get a fine of upto 500 QAR if seen by the police.
Wearing seatbelts is compulsory for front-seat passengers, but not for the back-seat passengers.
Drunk driving is strictly prohibited; there is a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol levels.
A valid licence is required for all drivers, and all vehicles must be registered with the Ministry of Interior’s Traffic Department. Registration is valid for a year and then must be renewed annually after passing a tech-check.
Insurance is mandatory for all vehicles, and must be purchased in order to register the vehicle.
Driving licence and registration documents must be carried in the vehicle at all times.
You must call the police (999) whenever an accident occurs, although vehicles can be moved to the side of the road in the case of minor collisions. Traffic police determine who is at fault in minor collisions
Traffic Offences
Traffic offences carry penalty points of varying length, and accumulating 14 points in a 12-month period results in a licence suspension.
There is usually a three months’ ban for a first disqualification, with any subsequent disqualifications likely to result in longer bans and a lowering of the driver’s future points threshold.
Road rage incidents, in particular making offensive hand gestures, can result in stiff penalties. More serious offences, such as drink driving or causing a bad accident, are likely to invoke criminal proceedings, with the risk of a prison sentence and deportation.
Cultural note: Most of the time, flashing of headlights by another car usually means ‘get out of my way’ rather than ‘after you’.
"And in Qatar, you're more than five times as likely to die in a car accident than from a stroke. You've been warned." - Yahoo Auto News
For information on points and traffic violations from the Ministry of Interior: Click here
Image from QL Flickr Group
thanks for the insight guys, does me a more clearer understanding of the road do's and dont's :)
driving on the right hand side means you drive on the right and cars travelling in the opposite direction are on your left ..in the UK and other places, you drive on the left and oncoming traffic approaches on your right.
- Roundabouts:
1) Left lane goes left or straight..Middle only goes straight but if road markings allow a left turn, do so with caution..right lane goes right or straight
2) If a three lane roundabout leads to a 2 lane street, the rightmost car has to slow down and give way..the car in the middle lane will take the right lane on the narrow 2 lane street and the left lane car will take the left lane..this is a common situation here where no one knows what to do but everyone thinks they have the right of way.
- Left lane: this is strictly an overtaking lane. If someone flashes you from behind and you have space to move over, do so. If you don't have space to move, indicate right. This will let the crazy flasher behind you know that you intend to do something about the situation and he will hopefully wait a bit. The silly people who won't move because 'they are maintaining the speed limit' deserve all the bullying they get from flashers.
Left lane can go left or straight both but if u are in middle lane you should have to go to straight otherwise be very careful while your going left from the middle lane......
approaching a roundabout the far end left lane(fast lane) goes where - left or straight? ....and the middle goes where?
Right hand side means don't drive on fast lane if u don't want to drive fast...
Drive on the right-hand side of the road ? didn't get it
"flashing headlights by another car..". I guess we all know who is this "another car" in most case and it seems to be our "job" to watch out both for them and us in order to keep our a** safe.!
"Drive on the right-hand side of the road." - what precaution is this? I just didn't fully understood it....could you guys tell more please
The last & important point ...
Driving during / after alcohol drinking is not allowed to men .....
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Fri, 28.03.2014 , 07.30 hrs .........................................................................................................