Qatar Launches Traffic Safety Strategy

Doha , January 13 (QNA) - HE Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and Head of the National Committee for Traffic Safety inaugurated Sunday the Qatar National Strategy for Traffic Safety 2013-2022 in Katara. A number of their excellencies Ministers and ranking officials attended the inauguration. The strategy, prepared by the National Committee for Traffic Safety in cooperation with Public Works Authority (Ashghal), aims to limit the number of deaths caused by accidents. Guaranteeing traffic safety was one of the priorities of Qatari officials and in 2010, the Qatari Cabinet issued decision no. 33, which was ratified by HH the Heir Apparent in July 22, 2010, to establish the National Committee for Traffic Safety. HE the Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani told the press after the inauguration ceremony that the new strategy was planned based on the Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016. The goal was to limit the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from road accidents, HE the Minister of State added. His Excellency the Minister added that the new laws regarding traffic laws would help in reducing the number of casualties. In 2006, 270 people died as a result of road accidents. Six years later, the number fell to 204. For his part, President of Ashghal Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi said that launching a national strategy for traffic safety was a step in the right direction. He described the new strategy as ambitious, adding that it will make Qatar's roads one of the safest in the world in terms of the number of casualties and serious injuries resulting from road accidents. He said that the target was to reduce the number of casualties to 130 at the most and 300 serious injuries a year by 2022. Al Mawlawi said that the authorities have adopted a five-year plan (2013-2017) as part of the strategy. He added that 10 different authorities will carry out around 200 plans as part of implementing the strategy. The plans include a wide range of initiatives from establishing and reviewing pedestrian facilities to raising awareness on staying safe on the road. The President of Ashghal then thanked HE the Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani for his effort in overseeing the work of the National Committee for Traffic Safety. (QNA)