MoI intensifies campaign to deter people from using mobiles while driving

The General Traffic Directorate at the Ministry of Interior has intensified a campaign against people who use mobile phone and don’t wear seat belt while driving.

The campaign began on Sunday and will continue until the end of summer. Fine for violation is QR500.

Major Jaber Mohamed Rashid Odaiba, Assistant Director, Media & Traffic Awareness Department, told The Peninsula that police patrols are being assigned at multiple places to register such violations.

“We’ve chosen the summer months because there’s no major traffic jam and it’s easy to stop any violator and register offence like what we’re doing now.”

Odaiba said: “Motorists using mobile while driving will be booked on the spot by patrols and security and fined. “The campaign aims to curb these two violations because many motorists not only use their mobiles for call but also WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media sites for Pokémon GO — a new smartphone game  — which can endanger their and others’ safety.

“The campaign’s aim is not just to collect fines but also to increase awareness among motorists.”

“It aims to highlight the importance of using seatbelt and how dangerous it’s to use mobiles while driving. We want motorists to avoid such accidents,” he added. “So far, there has been no significant increase in the number of violations. We don’t want to disrupt traffic, we want everything to go smoothly, and this isn’t the first time we’re focusing on violations.”

Many patrols are participating in the campaign, including those in Al Shamal, Dukhan and in Doha. Every week, the department evaluates the impact of the campaign and its results. In accordance with the report, the Traffic Studies and Information Section issues report about the campaign and results.

The campaign is within the framework of the ministry’s aim to reduce accidents and the number of deaths and injuries.

According to data provided by the Traffic Department earlier, using mobile phone while driving is the cause of more than 80% of accidents in Qatar and about 94% of the people surveyed online by the ministry believe that using mobile phones while driving is risky and the cause of major road accidents.

Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com