Young Qataris falling victims to majority of road accidents
More than 60 percent of the Qataris who die in road accidents are young men, according to a HMC doctor.
Most of them are aged between 10 and 29 years, said Dr Rafael Consunji, Injury Prevention Director Hamad Medical Corporation.
These youngsters only make up to two percent of the population, but comprise 35 to 45 percent of all road accident victims.
These accidents account for 11 to 12 percent of deaths, Dr Consunji said while presenting the findings of a study on road safety in Qatar at the third Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Road Safety Forum, which opened yesterday.
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Road Safety Forum discusses road safety, challenges and solutions in the Middle East’s transportation and infrastructure industries.
Several officials from Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Ministry of Interior, many experts from different countries present their experience and suggestions at the forum.
Yousef Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Director of roads operations and maintenance department at Ashghal said that since the launch of National Road Safety Strategy in 2013 all road projects in the country strictly follow safety guidelines and accredited road safety auditors are appointed for monitoring.
“The Work Zone Traffic Management Guide launched by Ashghal has helped to significantly reduce road accidents at work sites,” he added.
The first ITS & Road Safety Awards were also presented for outstanding contribution in road safety.
Kulluna safety campaign by the Hamad International Training Centre (HITC) was given the Industry recognition award for outstanding road safety implementation for the car seat safety project. The award was received by the campaign head Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen and his team. [The Peninsula]
There should be a campaign to get young drivers to race on the track and not the road. Too many deaths, perhaps video should be part of the driving test, showing the horrors of fatal car accidents.
It's safer to ride camels.
it's the adrenaline!
I don't think that they are doing it for the thrill. Clearly, there is something wrong. If they want to drive fast, drive on a race track. Not on the roads where people following the rules can die also with what they are doing. It is so irresponsible but it's frustrating because it seems that no one is doing something about it.
it's just because of the thrill in speeding up strong SUV's & Huge pick-up truck.
I know that accidents are really very bad when they happen. Not only time is lost, but sometimes, lives. Is it just me that notices the locals driving and speeding recklessly almost all the time? Are they always in a hurry or do they feel that they are in a race. If the young people are doing it, it is because it is what they grew up seeing from their elders. Just imagine what a slight budge or a slight turn of the wheel will do when they are going this fast. They have big cars so they feel invincible. I guess not.