38% ACCIDENT RATE IN THE PAST 3 YEARS

ABDUL LATIF: ‘IMPLEMENTATION OF SPEED HUMPS REDUCES CHANCES OF ACCIDENTS’

Roads Planning & Design Director at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities & Urban Planning Eng. Kadhim Abdul Latif revealed that the Ministry has constructed speed humps at pedestrian crossings and pedestrian signals in order to reduce chances of accidents or reduce the severity of collisions.

‘The Ministry, in coordination with the Traffic General Directorate, has conducted a traffic survey along locations that witnessed pedestrian accidents in the past five years, where it turned out that most accidents occurred at crossings that were supposed to be safe,’ said Abdul Latif.

‘Lack of commitment to traffic laws at traffic signals results in many pedestrians being run over by negligent drivers. Therefore, the study recommended the implementation of speed humps along such crossings,’ he added.

Abdul Latif also explained that the rate of pedestrian accidents in 2012 was 35 accidents, while in 2013 it amounted to 24 accidents and in 2014 it reached 18 accidents. In the past 3 years, pedestrian accidents rate was 38%, with pedestrian accidents along pedestrian crossings or traffic signals amounting to 13% of the total pedestrian accidents rate.

The Ministry implemented over 12 flat speed humps at pedestrian crossings and pedestrian traffic signals, including Salmaniya Avenue, Budaiya Highway, Jerusalem Avenue, Palace Avenue, Doha Avenue, Exhibition Avenue and Hatim Al Taei Avenue. The decision to implement speed humps on those avenues was based on field surveys indicating the number, speed and rate of vehicles, in addition to the number of fatal accidents along those crossing points. There are 39 pedestrian traffic signals on the roads network, distributed amongst the 4 Governorates. Also, there are over 300 pedestrian crossings.

Director Abdul Latif explained that the Ministry normally opts for speed humps to force drovers to reduce speed and therefore minimize accidents or reduce the severity of collision, especially in residential and commercial areas, where more children and old people are seen crossing the roads.

When speed humps are implemented, warning signs are also installed and humps are painted, in addition to installing reflective signs to warn drivers of speed humps from a distance.

The Ministry of Works, Municipalities & Urban Planning urges drivers to reduce speed when approaching pedestrian crossings and adhere to traffic laws for their safety and safety of other road users.