Why would anybody in thier right mind think it ok, especially here, or anywhere in the world, it ok not to have kids protected?
Go to Landmark Mall underground car park. There you will see an advert for Raha Recovery service, featuring a smiling Arab family, all of whom are without seatbelts.
I don't know why it is the case, but the local population don't see the dangers of driving fast, driving too close, driving erratically, and driving without seatbelts.
When I first arrived here, I assumed you couldn't buy child seats, but you can. I wince every time I see an unrestrained kid, when I know they'll be thrown through the windscreen at any collision above 50kph.
Of course, no one thinks they're going to have a crash. But I guess every Qatari family must have lost a member to a road traffic accident, and still they take no precautions.
Maybe it could be explained by bravado mixed with surrendering yourself to fate. Or maybe it's a sick humour. Who knows.
Anyway, back on topic, I was rear-ended by a Qatari (ooer, missus) when I first arrived. The guy fessed up to the police, even though he could have pushed the blame onto me. Some guys are honest, and some aren't. Just like everywhere.
It would be helpful if there were a few more English and Hindi/Urdu speakers in the police though. Getting one side of the story is always going to lead to errors. But since a lot of Qataris join the police because it's one of the few places you can work without completing high school, extra languages aren't really going to be in abundance.
Go to Landmark Mall underground car park. There you will see an advert for Raha Recovery service, featuring a smiling Arab family, all of whom are without seatbelts.
I don't know why it is the case, but the local population don't see the dangers of driving fast, driving too close, driving erratically, and driving without seatbelts.
When I first arrived here, I assumed you couldn't buy child seats, but you can. I wince every time I see an unrestrained kid, when I know they'll be thrown through the windscreen at any collision above 50kph.
Of course, no one thinks they're going to have a crash. But I guess every Qatari family must have lost a member to a road traffic accident, and still they take no precautions.
Maybe it could be explained by bravado mixed with surrendering yourself to fate. Or maybe it's a sick humour. Who knows.
Anyway, back on topic, I was rear-ended by a Qatari (ooer, missus) when I first arrived. The guy fessed up to the police, even though he could have pushed the blame onto me. Some guys are honest, and some aren't. Just like everywhere.
It would be helpful if there were a few more English and Hindi/Urdu speakers in the police though. Getting one side of the story is always going to lead to errors. But since a lot of Qataris join the police because it's one of the few places you can work without completing high school, extra languages aren't really going to be in abundance.