Doha: Over 150 vehicles violating traffic rules were seized in the Sealine area last week, the General Directorate of Traffic announced yesterday during a press conference.
According to the traffic statistics released yesterday, 18 people died in vehicular accidents in the area during the last three years, in addition to 122 people suffering from serious injuries. In light of this, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has stationed an air ambulance (helicopter) in the Sealine area during the weekends, in addition to a fleet of 13 ambulances and other medical vehicles.
The press conference organised by the General Directorate of Traffic also launched an awareness drive for the camping season 2020-2021, in cooperation with several other government departments and civil society organisations.
The event also highlighted the most frequent traffic violations and the role of families in monitoring their children, especially those who are underage. Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah Al Shahwani, Director General of Traffic, said the awareness campaign aims to enhance security during the camping season. He stressed that the traffic department and all participating parties would intensify efforts to serve the campers and visitors in the Sealine area and other camping places.
He pointed out that a committee had been formed with the aim to plan, supervise, and follow up, to ensure a safe camping season, calling upon everybody to adhere to the procedures and rules for camping, especially those related to traffic rules.
Brigadier Al Shahwani said traffic patrols would be deployed to check the campers’ driving behaviours, noting that efforts will not be limited to the Sealine area only, but will focus on all camping places.
The event was also attended by Colonel Mohammad Radhi Al Hajri, Director of Media and Traffic Awareness Department; Lt. Col. Mohammad bin Jassim Al Thani, Director of the Southern Traffic Section; and many other traffic officials.
The officials explained the measures put in place by the Sealine Committee to reduce traffic accidents during the camping season as well as traffic patrol plans. They stressed the need to adhere to laws and guidelines to maintain traffic safety and explained how to deal with traffic offenses such as illegal car driving shows outside the circuit, drifting, manipulating and crowding among others.
The officials also spoke about the ambulance service and the procedures to respond to emergencies in the camping sites, the most frequently reported injuries, and awareness tips and instructions for enhancing campers’ safety and protecting them from the risk of accidents.
“The Department last week seized more than 150 vehicles for violations in the Sealine area. Legal procedures have been initiated against 30 of those vehicles,” said Lt. Col. Mohammad bin Jassim Al Thani. He said the penalty for hiding a vehicle’s number plate is three-day prison in addition to court referral. “The department will not tolerate traffic violations and will strictly monitor the hobbies practiced by young people, as well as the issue of renting motorcycles to children,” he noted.
Ali Darwish, Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service, said that the Sealine area is covered by LifeFlight service throughout the year. Additionally, 13 4x4s cars have been dedicated to the Sealine area for the camping season. He pointed out that last year the service dealt with 1,225 reports from the Sealine region --- 660 sick cases and 565 injuries due to accidents.