In new safety initiative, pedestrians to get reflective bracelets
As part of a campaign to promote safety awareness during Ramadan, the Traffic Department will distribute reflective accessories to pedestrians, said a senior Department official.
The Department will give out a greenish yellow reflective bracelet that can be strapped on the arm, to keep motorists aware of the presence of pedestrians at night, especially when they cross roads.
During Ramadan, the Department will also distribute Garangao reflective bags to children as a safety measure against them being knocked down by vehicles during Garangao nights.
“For the first time, we’ll distribute safety bracelets to pedestrians during Ramadan to protect from accidents. We’ve also proposed to build more pedestrian bridges at several busy commercial streets and the Doha Corniche, where more accidents take place,” Major Jaber Mohamed Rashid Odaiba, Assistant Director of Media & Traffic Awareness Department, told The Peninsula.
He cited Salwa Road, Al Wakrah Commercial Street and Grand Hamad Street as places with a higher number of accidents.
The official said that about 5,000 reflective bags will be distributed to children for Garangao.
“We’ll start distributing the bags on the first day of Ramadan from our traffic safety awareness pavilions at major shopping complexes,” he said.
Such pavilions will be set up at Landmark Mall, Villaggio and Al Khor Mall, during alternate weeks of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, trucks will be banned on Doha roads during peak hours — from 8am to 9.30am, 1.30 pm to 3pm, and 5.30pm to midnight. The ban will be in force from the first day of Ramadan and violators face a fine of QR3,000.
Trucks transporting material to some special projects will be exempted from the rule.
“We’re distributing 5,000 leaflets in English, Arabic and Urdu to inform truck drivers about the new timing,” said Major Odaiba.
He said the department will deploy traffic patrols in markets and busy commercial streets to detect violations, especially those parking in the wrong way, in front of restaurants, sweetmeat shops and supermarkets.
“Speeding is the most common traffic violation during Ramadan, committed by those rushing to their homes in the pre-Iftar hours. Parking in undesignated places is another common violation,” said Major Odaiba.
Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com
I hope they will consider to put pedestrian bridge in Al Sadd area. Been in Qatar for 4 years and I've witnessed 3 persons died crossing that street.
Good move, I love to walk and cycle where I go, fitter and healthier. I am not entirely sure how helpful the bands are going to be though.
Mary, they have ti build malls and football stadia first!
Please get the parked cars off the pedestrian walkways, build more, proper walkways, repair all the broken walkways, and remove all the hazards from walkways. Then pedestrians can proceed safely.
This is good news for both the driver and pedestrian - joys