Deaths, Accidents Declined in 2012

Doha, February 05 (QNA) - Traffic in the State of Qatar has seen the number of deaths and accidents in 2012 decline compared to 2011 despite an increase in the number of vehicles across the country, population growth and the increasing number of drivers, Traffic Department Director Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al-Kharji revealed. Al-Kharji made the remarks at an annual press conference organized by the Traffic Department to analyze the traffic situation in 2012. He noted that the results compiled in the 2012 traffic statistics report might not be up to the desired standards in terms of decreasing the number of accidents, but he expressed satisfaction at the less number of deaths and accidents compared to one year before. He added that 204 deaths were caused by accidents in 2012, while in 2011 the number was 205. He said that 88,146 new vehicles were registered in 2012, an increase of more than 18,000 from the previous year. The number of new drivers in 2012 was approximately 108,000, an increase of 3,000 from 2011, he said. Al-Kharji said excessive speed was the most prevailing reason for street accidents on internal roads or highways alike. He added that the department will take the necessary measures to curb the excessive speed, noting that one of these measures is to decrease the distance between radars to two kilometers instead of four. (QNA)