A Qatar University research titled ‘Sustainable Residential Roads: Towards Safer Environment for Pedestrians’ has highlighted the importance of prioritising pedestrian safety in Qatar roads.
The study published in the 16th issue of the institution’s Research Magazine recommended applying physical road narrowing as a potentially effective and low-cost treatment to improve pedestrian safety in residential areas.
The research was carried out by Dr. Qinaat Hussain, Research Associate, and Dr. Wael Alhajyaseen, Research Associate Professor from QU College of Engineering.
Also, in locations where physical road narrowing is not feasible, road narrowing markings are recommended since they showed efficiency in improving the yielding rates while motivating drivers to reduce their speeds.
Meanwhile, a recent study by the Hamad Trauma Center (HTC) shows that the road death rate in Qatar fell by 61 percent per 100,000 population from 2011 to 2020. It is estimated that as many as 858 potential road deaths were prevented from 2011 to 2020.
The QU study tested five treatments, including two ITS-based solutions (LED pavement lights and Variable Message Sign (VMS), two different road markings (Zigzag markings and Road Narrowing markings), and a physical road narrowing treatment. The study enlisted 61 volunteers possessing a valid Qatari driving license. The collected data from the participants were analyzed for drivers’ yielding rates and driving speeds in all the treatment scenarios.
As commonly observed in Qatar, drivers usually do not stop or yield to pedestrians but rather compete for the right of way. On the other hand, the study said that insufficient crossing facilities in residential areas might lead to irregular and risky pedestrian crossing behaviors (Jaywalk).
Each year, 1.35 million people are killed on roadways around the world. The World Health Organization in 2018 reported that in most countries, around one-third of the annual road traffic fatalities are pedestrians.
The Decade of Action for Road Safety (DoARS) 2021-2030 plan by the United Nations aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent.
Qatar has continuously implemented road safety measures and robust strategies towards more sustainable methods.
Recently, Ashghal announced that automatic pedestrian crossing sensor technology would be installed at several intersections to enhance traffic safety and reduce traffic accidents.
The technology was installed to help the public at some vital intersections, including Doha City Center, Al Jasra Intersection, Nasser Bin Khaled Intersection, Wadi Al Sail Intersection, Al Diwan Intersection, Fire Station Intersection, and Al Khaleej Intersection.
