Visitors and tourists holding a non-Qatari valid driving licence can apply for Qatari temporary driving licence during their visit to the country within 15 days from the date of entry to the country, the General Directorate of Traffic announced yesterday.
The General Directorate of Traffic also revealed yesterday that during the first half of 2018 the department caught 143 people for driving without a licence.
“A person holding a licence for any vehicle, light, heavy or equipment; is allowed only to drive the same category of the vehicle. The Article 29 of the Traffic Law for the Year 2007 stipulates that no motor vehicle shall be driven on the road unless the driver has obtained a driving licence from the Licensing Authority entitling the holder to drive such a vehicle,” said Captain Khalid Mubarak Al Khulaifi, Head of Traffic at Dukhan.
Captain Al Khulaifi, while speaking yesterday at a press conference at the General Directorate of Traffic headquarters, added that the traffic patrols continue their campaigns on a daily basis to ensure the avoidance of this violation toward which it shows no tolerance because of the severe risks involved.
This came as the ongoing traffic awareness campaign titled “Accident-Free Summer” entered fourth week with a focus on raising awareness against driving vehicles without a licence.
Al Khulaifi clarified that “persons belonging to any of the following categories are exempted from these provisions. The categories include holders of driving licences issued by the armed forces, police and other security agencies for driving these agencies’ vehicles only. Also the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states holding valid driving licences issued by the competent authorities of their respective states, visitors and tourists holding valid international driving licences,” he added.
Captain Al Khulaifi also pointed out that the law also criminalises letting a person without driving licence to drive a car. He pointed out that in the case of juveniles being caught for driving without license, they will be transferred to the Juvenile Police Department to take the necessary measures against him.
Speaking about the video being circulated on social networking sites of a reckless driver who drove a car in Al Waab area in an extremely adventurous way, Colonel Mohammed Al Hajri, Director of Traffic Awareness and Information Department, said that the General Directorate of Traffic urges all road users, whether in celebrations or weddings, to abide by traffic rules and regulations and to keep away from any forms of danger. He added that through traffic investigations the perpetrator will be held and presented to prosecution