Brigadier Mohammed Abdul Rahim Marafia, Director of Engineering and Traffic Safety Department at the General Directorate of Traffic (centre) and Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Radi Al Hajri, Director of Media and Traffic Awareness (right) at the event.
DOHA: The new strategic decision made by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education related to change and reduction in school hours for all grades in public schools has helped alleviating traffic congestion.
“Traffic patrols have also been intensified to manage traffic flow that may face problems due to increased traffic on the roads with the opening of schools,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Radi Al Hajri, Director of Media and Traffic Awareness.
“Many roads are expected to be open by the end of this year to contribute easing traffic flow. Also places which were witnessing highest congestion in previous years like Al Markhiya signals and Hamad bin Jassim signals didn’t witness too much traffic this year at the opening schools. This is because of new working hours of independent schools,” he added during to a visit to Jawaan Bin Jassim Model School for Boys in order to spread traffic awareness among school students.
Al Hajri said that the aim of the visit is to educate students on concepts and traffic culture. In the meeting which was held in the theater hall of the school, Al Hajri pointed out the importance of adhering to traffic safety rules, in particular the obligation of remain seated in a moving bus and avoid excessive movement or speak loudly. He pointing out that such behavior bothers the driver, which could cause a traffic accident and this is a great risk for students and bus passengers.
He also stressed that the students under the age of 10, should sit in the back seats of the car because it is a safety for them, explaining the danger of crossing the road without following traffic rules.
“Any person who wants to cross the road must be sure that the road is free of cars coming from both directions and cross only from the places designated for pedestrian crossing,” he explained.
Brigadier Mohammed Abdul Rahim Marafia, Director of Engineering and Traffic Safety Department at the General Directorate of Traffic said that the back to school preparations started early, adding that Engineering and Traffic Safety Department is in communication and contact with Ashghal to install traffic boards around the schools.
At the end of the visit, a lot of gifts were distributed among students on the occasion of the beginning of the academic year.
