Doha, Qatar: The National Road Safety Committee, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Traffic, organized an event on Sunday to mark World Road Traffic Victims’ Day under the theme “Remember – Support – Act”, in the presence of a number of officers, representatives of the concerned authorities and a number of students from military colleges and schools in the State of Qatar.

On this occasion, the Director General of Traffic, Major General Abdul Aziz bin Jassim Al Thani, said that the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which was designated by the United Nations on the third Sunday of November every year, comes this year under the slogan (Retain – Support – Act). He noted that the purpose of organizing this day is related to remembering the victims who lost their lives, as well as supporting people who have suffered serious injuries in road accidents and working to provide support to them and their families.

He added that the General Directorate of Traffic aims, by marking this anniversary, to highlight the importance of traffic safety and to make members of the community aware of the dangers of traffic accidents, which are today considered one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide . It is also an opportunity to appreciate the efforts made by the police and rescue and emergency teams.

He mentioned that the General Directorate of Traffic, together with the relevant road authorities in the country, took several measures to reduce road accidents, based on the fourth strategic objective of the MAI, which aims to (raise the level of traffic safety ). on the roads).

The General Director of Traffic said that data and traffic indicators in the country in recent years have shown a significant decrease in deaths and serious injuries resulting from traffic accidents, as the death rate in traffic accidents per 100,000 people has reached (5, 3) deaths during 2023, which is lower than the global rate of (15) deaths per 100,000 people.

For his part, member and secretary of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, Brigadier Dr. Mohammed Radi Al Hajri, said that the State of Qatar has paid great attention to the issue of traffic safety, feeling its importance in preserving the country’s human and economic resources.

Al Hajri indicated that the country, based on its legal and humanitarian responsibility, has established a National Committee for Traffic Safety headed by HE the Minister of Interior and with members of all traffic safety stakeholders as the leading national institution that is responsible for attracting. to support the country’s traffic policy in all legislative, educational, cultural, sanitary, technical and engineering fields to achieve the highest standards of traffic safety in a way that preserves the country’s human and economic resources.

He added that due to the solid traffic policies adopted by the committee and as a result of the great interest given by the Minister of Interior and the Chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to the issue of traffic safety, in addition to the cooperation of all parties and their commitment to implement the policies developed by the committee in this area, the State of Qatar has been able to make significant progress in reducing the rate of deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents.

He explained that despite the advanced results achieved by the State of Qatar in reducing the rate of deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents, the ambition is still high to make further progress in the field of traffic safety.

For his part, the director of the Department of Noncommunicable Disease Prevention Programs within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasized that traffic accidents remain a major challenge in the fields of public health and development worldwide, as approximately 1, 3 million people die and up to 50 million people are injured each year from these accidents, which can be serious and lead to long-term physical and psychological disabilities that greatly affect families and communities.

He pointed out that the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is an appropriate opportunity to highlight the need to sensitize drivers and all road users on road safety and to call for the strengthening of measures to prevent and reduce injuries resulting from accidents roads, provide safe roads and vehicles and encourage safe driving.

He also addressed the achievements of the State of Qatar in improving traffic safety, including the remarkable improvement in the country’s infrastructure, which is in line with international road safety standards, and the implementation of several traffic laws covering various aspects of traffic safety . , including speed limits, the use of seat belts and helmets, child restraint systems and not using mobile phones while driving, praising the quick response of the emergency services and the health sector in transporting the injured and providing prompt medical care and necessary.

For his part, the head of vascular and trauma surgery at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Sheikh Dr. Hassan bin Ali AI-Thani discussed the risks of road accidents and their negative effects on individuals and societies, revealing a set of global figures and statistics which indicate the severity of road accidents and the resulting deaths and injuries that have serious health and economic impacts.

He highlighted the efforts of the health sector in the State of Qatar in dealing with road accidents, attempts to reduce injuries and the efforts of medical teams in treating cases. He emphasized the importance of the joint responsibility of all stakeholders and families to face road accidents, as well as the role of awareness efforts among all segments of society, while respecting traffic laws and road safety, as studies have proven that adherence to the implementation these laws. and following safety guidelines play an important role in reducing injuries.

In special statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Deputy Director of the Department of Media and Traffic Awareness of the General Directorate of Traffic, Lieutenant Colonel Jaber Mohamed Odaiba said that the General Directorate of Traffic operates according to a strategy that covers all aspects related to of accidents and their causes through traffic awareness, road safety review and targeting drivers to increase their awareness as part of a plan implemented throughout the year.

The Deputy Director of the Mass Media and Traffic Awareness Directorate said that this theme comes in partnership with all parties represented by the Public Works Authority, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Public Health and representatives of media institutions, with the aim of addressing all causes of reducing the rate of road accidents.

In a similar statement to QNA, Consultant Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Khalid Al Yafei, said that some children are exposed to road accidents while inside the vehicle, and a percentage of them are exposed to accidents while on the roads with scooters. or bicycles.

He added that most of the ages received due to road accidents range from one week to 14 years, which indicates that all cases of children received in this regard are fully examined to determine the severity of the injury to provide appropriate treatment quickly and without any delay to avoid any complications, according to the protocol followed.

In a presentation at the event, Al Yafei spoke about road accidents among children, stressing that it is a serious problem worldwide and is considered the leading cause of death among children and youth, as approximately 220,000 children and youth die annually because of road traffic. accidents, while over 600 deaths per day can be avoided.

He analyzed a number of statistics related to traffic accidents, the number of deaths and the severity of injuries, stressing the importance of working to increase society’s awareness and focusing on the use of traffic safety and security measures, such as following seat belts. , protective helmets and other means of protection under the law.

For his part, the director of the Land Transport Planning Department of the Ministry of Transport, Saleh Saeed Al Marri, indicated that the ministry is willing to work together and coordinate with all relevant authorities in the country to improve road safety and reduce traffic accidents. It also works to develop effective plans, programs and strategies to improve the quality and management of transport demand and strives to achieve balance and integration between private and public transport services.

He pointed out that the ministry has prepared a number of major projects to improve the transport system and raise the level of road safety in the country, reviewing the future plans that the Ministry of Transport is working on, including the road safety audit on the existing road. network, updating the comprehensive bicycle plan, in addition to studying and preparing smart mobility strategies within cities.

On the sidelines of the event, an accompanying exhibition was inaugurated, showcasing the contributions of various entities to promoting safety standards and increasing traffic awareness.

The program presented a documentary on the improvement of traffic safety in the State of Qatar, highlighting the efforts made and the measures taken that led to the decrease in the rate of deaths in traffic accidents and the strengthening of constructive cooperation between the National Committee for Road Safety and other entities in the country. to achieve the desired goals.