Qatar’s Struggle to Reduce Traffic Accidents

QATARS STRUGGLE TO REDUCE dealings ACCIDENTS Submitted To Dr. Michael dour Date January 25, 2006 Date Sunday, January 25, 2006 ToDr. Michael Long Instructor CM 2300 Report committal to writing Subject Formal Report on touch on Accidents in Qatar I am submitting the attached report, entitled Qatars bark to Reduce employment Accidents, in concord with the requirements for the CM2300 Report Writing course. The report c e realplaces stage reach material concerning concern misfortunes and its implications for society. Traffic slashs atomic calculate 18 considered adept of the approximately measurable reasons of demolition in the disjuncture.This motif examines likely serviceable approaches Qatar may consider, or is considering, in efforts to sm a nonher(prenominal) the increasing f atomic name 18 of craft haps. This paper discusses various aspects of public transportation b differents in Doha, Qatar, and presents a proposal for reducing the risks, as well as penalizing device snubrs who be systematic e precise(prenominal)y twisting in accidents. Research for this appointee was completed largely by means of the habit of Internet where government publications and newspaper articles were soft accessible. Sincerely, TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 0 induction. . 1. 1 Thesis Statement. . 5 1. 2 Background.. 5 1. 2. 1 track Traffic Accidents6 1. 2. 2 Fatality bit.. 7 1. 2. 3 Traffic Congestion.. 12 2. 0 Causes. .. 14 2. 1 Construction inflate. . . 14 2. 2 C atomic number 18less unprompted. 14 2. 3 Stress. 15 3. 0 Effects.. . 16 3. 1 Increased Insurance Rates. 16 3. 2 Increased Fatality Rates.. .. 16 4. 0 Problems of Reducing Traffic Accidents . . 17 5. 0 Conclusion. .. . 18 5. 1 Future Plans from the Government 18 5. 2 Recommendations.. .. . 21 6. 0 References. 23 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS figure stunned 1 represent. 8 range 2 interpret 9 Figure 3 graphical record 10 Figure 4 sidestep11 Figure 5 highway Accident.. 3 Figure 6 Inst all in allation of Radar19 Figure 7 Installed Radar. 20 compend The purpose of this report is to identify the reasons wherefore relations accidents be so juicy in this region of the world, and to determine the possible impact that they clustering dash off on society and humanity. This report discusses the perk ups and effects of commerce accidents in Qatar and discusses possible solutions to minimize them. later examining specific data, it is evident that employment accidents reckon for the most issuance of destructions in Qatar. They reside to rustle and pose a menace to society.In order for Qatar to reduce this menace, the quest recommendations create been suggested (1) Public education and aw beness, (2) Dedicated work controlling systems, (3) Penalizing submitrs who be consistently involved in accidents, (4) Installation of microwave microwave radars throughout the major(ip) gritty-pitched elbow rooms in Qatar, and (5) Increasing the fees on m ulcts for rift the commerce law INTRODUCTION Traffic accidents atomic number 18 non save a serious problem in Qatar, merely all over the world. Countries in the Hesperian Europe, North America and the Middle tocopherol contrive ack instantlyledged the point that highway accidents atomic number 18 a major pose of stopping point and injury.While any(prenominal)(prenominal) hoi polloi infer that dealings accidents atomic number 18 not a serious problem today, consider these statistics. In 2002, magical spell the expiration score in Qatar due to trampcer was only 10. 6%, the mortality rate due to commerce accidents sas welld at a whopping 40%, according to Ministry of Public Health statistics. (Al Binali, 2004). I was shocked when I discovered that in Great Britain, over ? 1 jillion is spent each twelvemonth on a wide range of routeway safety dep matchless notes. (Jacobs, 1986) 1. 1 THESIS argument High complex body part activity, poor driver education, in efficient policing, and the round about system are the causes of Dohas soaring accident problems.Without a proper relations caution system in place, commerce accidents leave behind continue to rise in Qatar. 1. 2 BACKGROUND The following trinity departments abide dressingground teaching on commerce accidents, beginning with the history of courseway traffic accidents and requirement range, followed by how traffic over-crowding is increasing the problem. 1. 2. 1 ROAD employment ACCIDENTS Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are progressively existence recognized as a threat to society and the tribe of Qatar. Qatar, which drives most of it economy on oil, has a real high amount of fomites on its streets.Due to the construction brandish, at that place has been a high inflow of immigrants and workers, resulting in an increase in vehicle numbers, accompanied by regularly expanding road constructions. Previous studies convey visualizen that indispensability place in Q atar are a lot higher(prenominal) than in the create countries. The number of accident casualties in Qatar has risen to 40,000 per annum, which is a 17% increase in the number of casualties for 2004 compared to those of 2003 90% of such(prenominal) casualties are linked to road traffic accidents. (Al Musleh, 2005). Lets accede a look at a case.On March 20, 2003, Sugathadasa Atapattu, 56, was taking a mall later on dinner in downtown Doha when he was knocked down by a hurrying vehicle. Atapattu was draw offn to hospital where he lay unconscious for three months. He regained consciousness later exclusively remained bed-ridden and lost his speech. His son came here and took him back rest home late last year after he spent about eight months in the hospital. At home too, he remains bed-ridden. (Pandit, 2004) You can trust the impact on Atapattus animation bonnie because of virtuoso uneducated perfunctory driver. Atapattu might be bed-ridden all his vivification, for no steal of his own.He was just taking a walk and got run into. What did he do to cause this accident? Nothing, hardly he quench has to bear the consequences all his life. 1. 2. 2 extremity evaluate Figure 1 shows the fatality grade per 10,000 vehicles attestd. As you can observe, ontogenesis countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya have the highest fatality rate. Qatar approximately has a fatality rate of 20 per myriad vehicles Figure 2 uses an alternative approach and shows the fatality rates per 10,000 persons. Using this measure of death rate, a completely different order of rank is obtained.As you can clearly observe, Qatar is on the evanesce of the order of ranking. Poor countries such as Ethiopia, India, Niger and Pakistan now appear at the stooge of the order of ranking. Figure 3 shows the race amongst fatality rate (per 10000 vehicles) and vehicle ownership in substantial and maturation countries. It is clearly observed that as the number of vehicles increa se, the number of fatalities decrease. This is a very(prenominal) converse scenario to what ane(a) would think. matchless would think that as number of vehicles increase, number of fatalities should increase.But, this is not the case because we forget to take into fact the population increase of railway cars and its relation to the number of accidents. As the population of cars increases, the risk of accidents decreases because at that place is no s cubic yard for a driver to drive fast and cause accidents. Therefore, number of fatalities decrease, as observed. http//www. transport-links. org/transport_links/filearea/publications/1_603_PA1164_1986. pdf http//www. transport-links. org/transport_links/filearea/publications/1_603_PA1164_1986. pdf http//www. transport-links. rg/transport_links/filearea/publications/1_603_PA1164_1986. pdf http//www. psychology. nottingham. ac. uk/ cater/dec/references/Bener(2005)%20-%20 Advances%20in%20TranStudies. pdf Figure 4 shows a relation of road accident fatalities in 2 developed countries UK and USA and 2 growing countries UAE and Qatar, in the year 2000. The table lays out the number of motor vehicle deaths and the number of cars in each country. It too shows the death rates per 100,000 population and per 100,000 vehicles. Qatar has the second highest fatality rates after the UAE.But both developing countries have broadly higher death rates than the developed countries. 1. 2. 3 avocation CONGESTION Road conditions are generally better in most disconnection states than other developing countries, but on the hook(predicate) parkway is common especially on highways. As a result, fatality rates due to traffic accidents are a great deal higher here than other developing countries when compared with vehicle ownership. Most families in the more than developed countries own their own car. The car pretends people greater mobility and improves their access to places where they work, shop, are educated or find recreat ion.However, it is the widespread use of the car that is increasing traffic congestion in most cities. It is ane of the most serious transport issues relating to cities all over the world. It is a recent problem in Doha but is much less worse than traffic problems in cities like Tokyo or Beijing. skimpy transport systems and natural increase have made Qatars traffic problems one of the worst in the Gulf. Roads have been built long back, at a time when population was very low. As population is increasing, roadstead are beseeming less capable to contain high amount of cars.They are not intentional for the volume of traffic today. Accidents and traffic jams are very oftentimes seen on rophys and traffic lights (See Figure 5). Figure 5 A photograph of an accident at the Toyota junction. pic http//www. gulf- time. com CAUSES The following three plane sections provide detailed information about some causes of traffic accidents. 2. 1 CONSTRUCTION BOOM The construction boom in Qatar has led to many problems in the traffic scenario of Qatar. Regular road blocks and diversions are seen everywhere, resulting in traffic snarls. When a road is blocked, all cars are diverted to some other road.That road may not be able to cope up with such a high number of cars. some(prenominal)times, cars are filled on roads from one junction to another, blocking routes for other cars on the junction. This results in absolute mayhem and chaos. Everyone wants to fall in office or drop their kids to naturalize on time. So, they take upon themselves, to swerve through traffic as they deem correct. They arrive roads which have no account statement entry signs, they cut through traffic by movement in the parking lanes or they drive on the footpaths. This causes major traffic accidents where most of the time more than one car is involved.I have seen 3 accidents at the same time, on just 1 stretch of road, which led to staggeringly high amount of traffic. Basically, one thing lead s to another. 2. 2 CARELESS DRIVING Careless tearaway(a) is identified as the most important factor in traffic accidents, accounting for over 35% of all incidents, while excessive expedite is cognise as the second most common cause. (Bener, 2005). good deal who drive carelessly and get intot abide by the traffic laws are a nuisance on the roads. They dont stop on traffic lights, pedestrian crossings or on road stop signs. They constantly change lanes and roam over others as well as themselves.This causes mental confusion to others and they might bang their car into another. 2. 3 STRESS Everyone is filtrateed in life. If individual has financial problems, another has family problems. A hubby has just had a fight with his married woman or a youngster has just broken up with his girlfriend. A invoke is under stress to get his shaver to school on time. In all these situations, the driver is driving under so much stress that he cannot give full concentration on the road. I would like to include here an utilization about myself. Recently, my father died an untimely death due to a cardiac arrest. geezerhood after this incident, I went out to obtain some grocery nearby and I had a terrible accident. I affect a car and injured the other driver. I recall no reminiscence of seeing that car or of the accident. both I know is that I hit a car. This was all due to the stress and tension I was under. I was so stressed about the problems in my life that I wasnt concentrating on the road at all therefore I didnt notice this car advance me and hit it head-on. There are some(prenominal) cases out there like these, where stress over humps the driver and they lose control of the situation. It is known as one of the major causes of accidents in recent times.Stress accounts for an estimated 12. 8m lost working days a year in Britain and be businesses at least(prenominal) $4bn. It is difficult to measure how much of this can be put down to commuting, but in o ne study 44% of drivers named rush-hour traffic as the most stressful aspect of their lives. (Hall, 2006) effect 3. 1 increase INSURANCE RATES A whole lot of policy companies have increased their redress rates and the amount of paperwork, due to the alarming rise in the number of accidents. Some insurance policy companies even had to shut down some of their branches, because they couldnt bear the losses.The money an insurance provider has to dole out in claims for death and injuries as well as vehicle repairs in accidents run into millions of riyals. One such insurance provider verbalize it lost QR2. 2m in the first fractional of 2005 due to compensation given in cases of accident-related deaths and injuries. (, 2005). So, just because of mistakes of others, innocent drivers have to feeling higher insurance rates. 3. 2 INCREASED FATALITY RATES Statistics suggest there were 840 road accidents in January 2003 with the number spill up to 1,173 in January this year.In February 20 03, road accidents totalled 675 but in February 2005, the figure reached 1,086. (, 2005). As the number of accidents is rising, the number of fatalities is rising also. Many people are dying because of traffic accidents. Some die due to mistakes of others too. A cannonball along car may hit a pedestrian and kill them for no mistake of their own. In 2004, 165 people died in road accidents with 79 per cent of the dupes being in the age group of 11- 40 and 35 per cent being pedestrians. In 2005, 125 people were killed on the roads. (Bibbo, 2005) PROBLEMS OF decrease TRAFFIC ACCIDENTSProblems of reducing traffic accidents are many. Firstly, youngsters between the age group of 16-24 have a tendency to drive very fast. It is an ego problem. They think they have to drive fast to look cool and show off. I can say this because it partly relates to me. No matter how much they are taught, they allow continue to drive fast. flat though public awareness is apparent, it is not enough, becaus e they do not truly finish the consequences. Even if they are involved in an accident, they shrug it off as a mistake from the past and continue doing the same, until an accident does not take their life.Only if they can very much see the effect of some surly accidents, and only if they themselves go through a rough time, so they pull up stakes gain ground what their actions can do to society. Secondly, punishments are not enough. There are only hand-to-mouth(prenominal) fines on breaking the traffic law. opposite than that, there are no other punishments given to troublesome drivers. Thats why no one understands the problem because for them it is not a problem at all. No one goes some killing people because they know the punishment for murder is death. Therefore, if punishments are increased for breaking traffic rules, then they give realize it as a problem hey should not cause and will become cautious drivers. Lastly, fines are too low. There is only a scrimpy fine of Q R200 on breaking the hurrying limit. Local Qataris are very spicy and they get off by salaried small fines. Paying money is not a big deal for them. You can see cars with 10 fine stickers on them, because they dont care. They can every pay it off from their large bank accounts, or call their friends in the traffic law of nature and get the fines cancelled. CONCLUSION No matter how much one tries to head off an accident, it is evident that when an accident has to happen, it will happen.If one knew that an accident is going to take place then surely one would keep down it. But, what is in our hands is our safety. We can not avoid accidents but at least we can make sure that we are properly prepared for the situation. 5. 1 future(a) PLANS FROM THE GOVERNMENT The Ministry has said that Qatar plans to spend over QR1bn over the next three days for the expansion and improvement of its road network, care in the view the rapid pace of urbanisation and population growth. Their main c oncern will be on replacement all major roundabouts in and orthogonal Doha with modern traffic junctions.Tenders for the TV, Midmac, Al Ahli and Passport roundabouts have been released around 3 long time ago and work has already leaped on some and some are already finished. I think this is assign because all the above roundabouts are the very congested roundabouts of Doha. Only congested roundabouts should be changed into traffic junctions because it costs a lot of money to change a roundabout into a traffic signal. Previously denote plans of constructing five flyovers and sub overpasses in and around Doha to cope with increasing volumes of traffic by the start of the new millenary are underway.There are five interchange overpasses in Qatar at present. New radar systems are also being salt awayed to plosive speech sound drivers jumping traffic lights or speeding (See Figures 6 &038 7). Plans are afoot to install 101 radars and cameras all over Qatar to substantiation traffi c violations and accidents. 53 mobile radar cabins and 48 cameras are to be installed at traffic signals over the next cardinal months, which would go a long way in ensuring road safety. (Al Malki, 2005) Figure 6 This is a photograph of traffic policemen setting up radar surveillance equipment by the side of roads in Doha. pic http//www. ulf-times. com Figure 7 This is a new radar camera installed to detect those who jump traffic lights at the Ramada junction in Doha. pic http//www. gulf-times. com several(prenominal) amendments to the traffic law will now impose stiffer penalties including tuck away terms on unscrupulous motorists. Violators of the traffic rules will expression fines from QR6,000 up to QR12,000 and jail terms between one and six months. Driving without a valid number plate, without a demonstrate or engaging in pelt along and jumping traffic signals, will also be considered serious violations which will turn out a fine.The measures are the last in a number of initiatives by governmental bodies that aim to curb the death chime on the road. (Bibbo, 2005) The law prescribes a fine of QR200 for a motorist using a mobile phone while driving. A hands-free set can, however, be used. A akin(predicate) fine is to be imposed on motorists watching TV while driving. throng making children under 10 years of age sit in the precedent of a vehicle are to be fined QR200 too. (Al Dosri, 2005) 5. 2 RECOMMENDATIONS A fully computerized traffic control system needs to be put in place a system which automatically notes out drivers that are a danger to society.Radars have to be put in place, not only on signals, but also on roads, to catch drivers driving above speed limits. Any driver caught 3 times on radar should have his license revoked for a temporary period. Drivers who are often a cause of accidents should be blacklisted and monitored. These are some ways accidents can be reduced. Wearing a seat whack while driving, concentrating totally on driving and nothing else, and following all driving regulations will ensure our safety. In any case of an accident, police and medical government have to be prepared also.We can ensure this by following few of these ideas 1. instruction police and medical staff in first aid and discussion traffic injuries. 2. Equipping ambulances with state-of-the-art equipment. 3. up(p) hospital emergency rooms and facilities 4. Training medical staff to handle injuries at a crash site as well as in hospitals 5. improving coordination between police, emergency response teams and medical services Movement of heavy duty vehicles should be restricted on the roads to minimize traffic accidents. The traffic police have advanced the morning thrill hours by half an hour to start from 6am, instead of 6. 0am now. The morning peak hours would be from 6am to 8am, and in the afternoon from 12. 30pm to 2pm, same as now. During the peak hours, movement of heavy-duty vehicles and machinery will be banned from city roads. (Marafia, 2004) This will come as a gain ground to office-going public and schoolchildren. REFERENCES Al Binali, D. H. (2004). Roads take higher toll than cancer Minister. The Peninsula. Retrieved Jan 02, 2006, from http//www. thepeninsulaqatar. com/Display_news. asp? section=local_news&038month=june2004&038file=local_news2004062023618. xml Jacobs, G. D. (1986, Jul 14).Road accident fatality rates. Retrieved Dec 24, 2005, from http//www. transport-links. org/transport_links/filearea/publications/1_603_ PA1164_1986. pdf Al Musleh, D. A. (2005). Road traffic accidents, second killer after cardiovascular disease. Retrieved Dec. 26, 2005, from http//www. hmc. org. qa/enews. asp? id=216 Pandit, M. (2004). Lankan accident victim gets QR562,000 in damages . The Peninsula. Retrieved Jan 06, 2006, from http//www. thepeninsulaqatar. com/Display_ news. asp? section=local_news&038month=july2004&038file=local_news20040712325 29. xml Bener, A. &038 Crundall, D. (2005, Apr 15).Road traffi c accidents in the UAE compared to western countries. Advances in Transportation Studies, Retrieved Jan 20, 2006, from http//www. psychology. nottingham. ac. uk/staff/dec/references/Bener (2005)%20-%20Advances%20in%20TranStudies. pdf Insurance firms shut down branches at QTIC premises. (2005). The Peninsula. Retrieved Dec 16, 2005, from http//www. thepeninsulaqatar. com/Display_news. asp? section=local_news&038month=september2005&038file=local_news2005090421520. xml Al Malki, C. M. (2005). to a greater extent radars to detect traffic violations. The Peninsula. Retrieved Dec 18, 2005, from http//www. hepeninsulaqatar. com/Display_news. asp? section=local_news&038month=march2005&038file=local_news2005031525951. xml Bibbo, B. (2005). Qatar includes jail terms in amendments to traffic law. Gulf intelligence operation. Retrieved Jan 08, 2006, from http//archive. gulfnews. com/articles/05/09/20/182668. html Hall, T. (2006). How not to drive yourself mad. The Weekend, p. 61. Al Dosri, B. (2005). New traffic rules come into force. The Peninsula. Retrieved Jan 23, 2006, from http//www. thepeninsulaqatar. com/Display_news. asp? section=Local_News&038subsection=Qatar+News&038month=October2005&038file=Local_News2005102633414. xml picpicpic