Country Summary
The 2009 Global Status Report on Road Safety released by the World Health Organization (WHO), reported that 199 people were killed on roads in Qatar (93% are male) and 1,053 were injured in 2007. The country does not have a national body on road safety or a road safety strategy. However, the Road Safety regulations in Qatar are improving thanks to a more stringent traffic law adopted in October 2007 and a country-wide traffic safety campaign. Qatar’s heavy reliance on highways in addition to the many road construction projects underway can prove challenging. The rate of automobile accidents due to driver error and excessive speed is declining but remains higher than in the United States for instance. In rural areas, poor lighting, wandering camels and un-shouldered roads present additional risks.
(Sources : http://travel.his.com/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1003.html, http://www.qatargas.com/Safety.aspx?id=149758, http://qataraccidents.org/category/graphics/, http://www.qatarroadsafety.com/partners.php)
Our activities in Qatar
In 2010, together with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Interior, Shell, and several other partners, we initiated a workshop that addressed the inclusion of Road Safety in school curricula (within the framework of its partnership with the Sesame Workshop).
In 2012, GRSP will be holding talks with the Qatari authorities and the International Media Agency to facilitate an international conference about Road Safety.
