More pedestrian crossings by year-end

The project to install pedestrian crossings at key locations across the city is planned to be completed by the end of this year, the Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said yesterday. The project is part of the National Traffic Safety Strategy (NTSS) that aims to reduce annual road fatalities to 130 by 2022 from 227 cases recorded in 2015.
NTSS also aims reduce the annual number of serious injuries to 300, in addition of reducing the annual rate of fatalities from 14 to 6 per 100,000 people.
Addressing the third forum of coordinators of the entities responsible for implementing the NTSS, the Minister said, “The overall plan for pedestrian crossings will end during the second half of this year. The project aims at improving pedestrian safety by providing attractive pedestrian crossings to encourage people to walk. It also includes providing crossings to serve people with disabilities,” said the minister.
Al Sulaiti said that the ministry will continue its efforts to contribute to safety on roads, adding that the NTSS has achieved “more than we expected”.
“ The strategy also aims to build a sustainable transport system and efficient planning of cities in order to meet the requirements of society,” he added.
The meeting discussed the role of NTSS in improving road safety and the next phase of the Strategy (2017 – 2022).  The two-days forum is being held under patronage of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Director General of Public Security Saad bin Jassim Al Khelaifi, Undersecretary of Ministry of Education Rabia Al Kaabi, President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr Saad bin Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, Brig Mohamed Saad Al Kharji, Director-General of the Traffic Department, and Director of Public Health at Ministry of Public Health, Dr Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani.
Al Muhannadi said that Ashghal is responsible of implementing about 7000km of roads includes highways , main roads and internal roads and many other projects which contributes of enhancing safety on roads.
“Ashghal has completed 21 projects since 2013 -2016 and the remaining 13 projects are expected to be completed by June this year, Then will start second phase of the plan for 2017 – 2022,” Ashghal President Al Muhannadi added.
He said more than 160 pedestrians crossings have been planned as a part of highways projects.
“We have also conducted a field survey covering more than 1500km of roads in order to evaluate them and enhance traffic safety, in addition to making a database of more than 18,400 km of lanes which will reflect positively on traffic safety efforts,” said Al Muhannadi.
“The General Directorate of Traffic has implemented 56 plans among 89 plans and the remaining 33 will be accomplished by June 2017, and they are related to laws, traffic awareness, driving licenses and response after accidents among others”, said Brig Mohammed Saad Al Kharji.
Rabia Al Kaabi said that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education is working to integrate traffic awareness in the curriculum at different educational phases.
The Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications has provided new school buses meeting the safety standards.
“During next the next phase (2017 – 2022) the ministry will endeavor to change the driving culture, to reach our aim which is Qatar without traffic accidents,” he added.
Dr Mohammed Al Thani said that the Ministry of Public Health has achieved its part of the NTSS by expanding the ambulance and emergency services, among other things.
The National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) was set up to formulate general traffic policies, plans to improve traffic system in all aspects. The NTSC aims at reduction of road accidents and its economic and social costs by using all potentials of the State. It also wants to build a sustainable transport system and efficient planning of cities in order to meet requirements of society.