The General Directorate of Traffic said there is remarkable progress to the 2018 traffic statistics compared to that of 2017, based on reduced number of traffic accidents, deaths and traffic injuries. The announcement was made by Director General of Traffic, Major General Muhammad Saad Al Kharji and Brigadier Muhammad Abdullah Al Maliki, Secretary of National Traffic Safety Committee. 

Al Kharji expressed appreciation for all the efforts of parties involved to arrive at these promising indicators, hoping to achieve further decline in the number of deaths and injuries in the coming years. He noted the growing awareness of young people who are keen to apply the rules of traffic to keep safe. He thanked the media for help in the awareness campaign, and the public for adapting a ‘traffic safety culture’.

Al Kharji also mentioned the incidents in the Sealine area, emphasising the need to abide by traffic safety measures and avoid recklessness to preserve lives. He highlighted the role of the family in this regard and for parents to not allow children to drive.

Traffic Statistics for 2018

Brigadier Ibrahim Saad Al Sulaiti, Head of Statistical Analysis Office at the Ministry of Interior (MOI), summed up the traffic statistics for 2018 in these indicators.

  • Increase in number of vehicles and driving licenses (4.3% in 2018 and 6% in 2017)
  • Decline in number of accidents with serious injuries (5.8%)
  • Decline in death accidents (3.1%)
  • Decrease in heavy casualties (17%) and deaths (5.1%)
  • Increase in the number of roads
  • Improved traffic performance

Brigadier Ibrahim Al Sulaiti pointed out that the number of deaths in traffic accidents in 2018 declined to 168, compared to 177 in 2017 a total of 177. He said that this success was the result of joint efforts by the General Directorate of Traffic, the National Traffic Safety Committee, the Ambulance Service, the Public Works Authority and the Ministry of Municipality and the Environment. The statistics also showed that 97.2% of traffic accidents were without injuries, while minor accidents declined by 8.5%.

Qatar’s average of 4.9 road accident deaths per 100,000 persons has been a remarkable achievement as it is far below the global average. The global average was 17.4 deaths per 100,000 persons, 9.2 per 100,000 persons in high-income countries, 9.3 in European countries and 24.1 deaths in low-income countries. The Industrial Area witnessed the highest number of traffic mortalities in 2018 with 14 cases, followed by Fareej Sudan with 13 cases, Leabaib with 11, Al Wakra and Sealine with 8 cases each.

The statistics reviewed the causes of traffic accidents in the Sealine area at four points: parents renting motorcycles for young children, motor performances that do not meet safety and security requirements, using quad bikes with high-speed engines manned by unqualified drivers and the absence of panels indicating danger places.

He said measures were taken by traffic authorities to reduce accidents in the area including setting up controls and requirements for registering motorcycles and vehicles intended for transporting tourists; conducting patrols in the area round-the-clock; inspection campaigns on shops to make sure that they comply with safety requirements; awareness campaigns in camps, schools and universities to introduce hazards; and collaboration with relevant bodies to locate entertainment areas, carry out campaigns and road checkpoints to control vehicles and drivers in violation.