Skip to main content

Transport safety in Qatar – ‘taking a long-term view’ says report

A report by the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) says that, while the country is well on its way to implementing programmes aimed at improving road safety, it appears to have taken a long-term view of its needs and is planning for a system which can expand to meet future demand. According to Transport Safety in Qatar: Outlook and Possibilities, the Qatari Government has implemented a series of initiatives and intelligent transport systems (ITS) around Qatar, in line with its Qatar Nat
May 23, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A report by the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) says that, while the country is well on its way to implementing programmes aimed at improving road safety, it appears to have taken a long-term view of its needs and is planning for a system which can expand to meet future demand.

According to Transport Safety in Qatar: Outlook and Possibilities, the Qatari Government has implemented a series of initiatives and intelligent transport systems (ITS) around Qatar, in line with its Qatar National Vision 2020, to improve road safety and surface transport effectiveness. These include: infrastructure projects aimed at reducing congestion and helping to cope with Qatar’s increasing number of vehicles; a real time traffic data collection and integration system; a traffic signal control room; and traffic signal pre-emption for emergency vehicles.

The report looks at four aspects of road safety policies: urban and transport planning, vehicles, traffic management, roads and infrastructure.

It discusses the new technologies available to improve road safety, such as anti-lock braking systems, driver alertness detection systems and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, along with the introduction of laws to mandate seat belt use for front seat passengers and drivers. The report claims that the country’s traffic department does not have the resources to control traffic congestion or police law-breaking motorists, although the country is moving to increase the number of officers by the end of 2016.

Qatar is investing substantially to create a world-class, integrated, surface transport system, while new and enhanced highways and roads, complemented by the Doha Metro and Lusail light rail projects, should reduce reliance on private cars, and help increase safety.

Related Content

  • Traffic signal priority initiatives aid better bus travel
    March 15, 2012
    David Crawford investigates traffic signal priority initiatives developing for better bus travel on the US Pacific Coast Transit patronage rises by an average of 35% along commuter corridors equipped with bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, according to the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA). BRT as defined as bus transit enhanced with ITS systems for better services, is winning new passengers attracted by opportunity to avoid increasing fuel costs and traffic congestion.
  • Teledyne Flir brings Middle East into vision
    July 10, 2023
    As urban sprawl creeps across the Middle East and Africa, congested roads aren’t far behind. Hesham Enan of Teledyne Flir explains to Adam Hill how traffic technology is helping authorities to cope
  • Abu Dhabi seeks safe and efficient multi-modal ITS solutions
    December 17, 2014
    Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport is planning to roll out its second phase ITS Strategy and Action Plan through to 2019 which will deploy a host of innovative multimodal ITS solutions. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is continuing to experience rapid growth in both its economy and population and none more so than its capital, Abu Dhabi. To cope with the current expansion, and in anticipation of future growth, the Abu Dhabi Surface Transport Master Plan has been devised by its Department of Transport and th
  • Middle East Looks to road charging for congestion relief
    January 26, 2012
    On the eve of the Gulf Traffic show in Dubai, ITS Arab secretary general and Innova Consulting managing director Zeina Nazer reviews prospects for road user charging in the Middle East and North Africa