Driving Safely in Qatar

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Driving Safely in Qatar
How to increase your safety on the roads and in
the roundabouts.
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Driving in Qatar

• According to the U.S. State Department

• Traffic accidents are Qatars leading cause of
  death. 

• Safety regulations in Qatar are not consistent
  with U.S. standards, and informal rules of the
  road and local customs often prove frustrating
  for first-time visitors. 

• The combination of Qatars extensive use of
  roundabouts, many road construction projects and
  the high speeds at which many drivers travel can
  prove challenging. 

• Despite aggressive driving on Qatars roads,
  drivers should avoid altercations or arguments
  over traffic incidents, particularly with Qatari
  citizens who, if insulted, have filed complaints
  with local police that resulted in the arrest and
  overnight detention of U.S. citizens. 

• Drivers can be held liable for injuries to other
  persons involved in a vehicular accident, and
  local police have detained U.S. citizens
  overnight until the extent of the persons
  injuries were known. 

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Aggressive Driving

• What is aggressive driving?

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Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving includes

• Speeding, which often leads to following too
  closely.
• Frequent or abrupt lane changes without
  signaling, passing on the shoulder or unpaved
  portions of the roadway.
• Harassing motorists who just happen to not get
  out of the way.
• Running stop signs and red lights.
• Passing stopped school buses.
• Failing to keep right.
• Other forms of reckless driving

You will see examples of this everyday while
driving around Qatar.
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Road Rage

• Aggressive driving can lead to Road Rage.

Road rage is a term used to refer to violent
behavior by a driver of an automobile, which thus
causes accidents or incidents on roadways
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Road Rage

• Road Rage can include

Stopping a vehicle at the side of the road, and
getting out of it to threaten, frighten, attack,
fight or hurt another motorist or passenger, or a
pedestrian, cyclist, or other person.
Verbal provocations, such as yelling, cursing,
excessive horn honking, rude or obscene gestures
and threats.
Driving actions, such as cutting off another
vehicle, extremely close tailgating, blocking
another vehicle from using a traffic lane,
pursuing or chasing another vehicle, or running
it off the road, deliberate ramming or bumping of
another vehicle.
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What can you do

• Avoid eye contact.
• Stay calm and relaxed.
• Make every attempt to get out of the way safely.
  Do not escalate the situation.
• Do not challenge an aggressive driver by speeding
  up or attempting to hold your position in your
  travel lane.
• Wear a seat belt and encourage your passengers to
  do the same.

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What can you do

• Ignore harassing gestures and name calling, and
  do not return them. Not only will this behavior
  most likely escalate the danger of the situation,
  it can get you arrested.
• Consider reporting aggressive drivers to the
  appropriate law enforcement authorities by
  providing a vehicle description, location,
  license plate number, and direction of travel.
• If you are being followed by an aggressive or
  threatening driver, do not stop or get out of
  your vehicle. Drive directly to the nearest
  police station or other location where you know
  you will be safe.
• If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash,
  stop a safe distance from the crash scene. When
  the police arrive, report the driving behavior
  you witnessed.

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And
Dont think that it is your ABSOLUTE right to
have the right of way. Be prepared to give up
the right-of-way to avoid an accident.
Is trading your safety or the safety of others
for the sake of pride really worth it????
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Roundabouts
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Roundabouts

• A roundabout is a type of road junction at which
  traffic enters a stream around a central island
  after first yielding (giving way) to the
  circulating traffic.

Unfortunately that is not always the case!
Under normal circumstances, the intent of a
roundabout is to make intersections safer and
more efficient.
Roundabouts move traffic through an intersection
without the use of traffic signals.
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Driving through Roundabouts
Defensive driving is the key !

• When entering the roundabout, yield to the
  traffic already in the roundabout.

• Be aware of other drivers in the roundabout. Be
  alert to drivers entering and exiting. Constantly
  watch the cars on either side of you. A car may
  cut in front of you without notice.

• Always make sure as you prepare to exit the
  roundabout that the car waiting to enter has
  yielded to you. On occasion, a car will enter
  the roundabout without slowing and cut off the
  car that is crossing over to exit.

• If you cannot safely exit the roundabout at the
  point you want to, dont panic, drive around
  again and catch the exit the second time.

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Lane Guidelines
When approaching a multi-lane roundabout, drivers
must choose the appropriate lane based on their
intention to go right, left or straight.
To go straight through the roundabout, approach
it from the center lane and follow the roundabout
to your exit. Use your right turning signal just
before turning off to alert others of your intent.
To go left at the roundabout, approach it from
the left lane and follow the roundabout to your
exit. Use your right turning signal just before
turning off to alert others of your intent.
To make a right hand turn, approach the
roundabout in the right hand lane. Use your right
turning signal to alert others of your intent
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Turn your signal on at this point as you approach
your exit to alert other cars waiting to enter of
your intention.
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Emergency Vehicles

• Always pull over for an emergency vehicle!

If you have not yet entered the roundabout, pull
over to the right as soon as you can to allow the
emergency vehicle to pass.
If possible, try not to stop inside the
roundabout, instead continue to your exit and
then pull over to the right allowing the
emergency vehicle to pass. But if you must stop
to let the emergency vehicle pass exercise
extreme caution!
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Heavy Duty Trucks and Construction Vehicles
Be aware that large trucks going through a
roundabout may straddle two driving lanes.
Never drive adjacent to or pass a truck in a
roundabout. It is much easier for you to see
them, than for them to see you.
Watch large trucks closely! Even though they
enter the roundabout from the right lane they may
not exit immediately but go straight through.
Always yield to them and look for their turning
signals.
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Penalties and Fines
Penalties and fines are getting tougher every day!
Be aware of the Qatari driving regulations and
make sure to follow them.
Do not assume the lack of police pulling over
vehicles for violating the law is an indication
that enforcement is non-existent.
Qatar has speed radars on highways throughout
Doha that are capable of photographing your
license plate and in some instances the driver.
Uniformed and plain clothes officers have been
known to be setting in roundabouts and along the
highway documenting the license plate numbers of
vehicles violating traffic regulations.
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Important Links
Traffic Violations and Resulting Fines
Check and see if you have received a traffic
ticket
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PAYING TRAFFIC FINES

• CHECK THE TRAFFIC VIOLATION WEBSITE OFTEN !!! 
• PAY ANY OUTSTANDING TICKETS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
  
• YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IF YOU
  HAVE OUTSTANDING FINES THAT NEED TO BE PAID.  
• THIS CAN AND WILL RESULT IN THE DELAY OF YOUR
  TRIP FROM QATAR!

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If you have an accident
If you are involved in an auto accident, move
your car immediately, if possible, to the side of
the road to prevent traffic from backing up.
Call the police and wait for them to arrive.
The police will issue a report. Without this
report you cannot get your car repaired.
Do not leave the scene until the police give you
permission to do so.
TIP 1 It is also a good idea to call someone
who can speak Arabic and has been in-country long
enough to be familiar with the laws.
This is a good reason why you should always carry
the emergency calling card with you!
TIP 2 Call the number on the emergency calling
card given to you by Texas AM. There are at
least two people on that list who speak Arabic.
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Safe Driving Tips

• Always be in the RIGHT Place on the road and
  traveling at the right speed.
• Be able to stop safely. Judge stopping distances
  appropriately. Judgment of speed and distances
  must be accurate
• Do not 'compete' for road space- drive with
  reasonable restraint, but not with indecision.
• Keep a cushion between you and the other cars
  around you. Tailgating is a very dangerous
  undertaking.
• Always use mirrors before changing your speed or
  position, and use turn indicators to clearly
  indicate to other road users what you are about
  to do. This enhances safety and can improve
  traffic flow, especially at roundabouts.
• Do concentrate properly and avoid distraction.
  Using a cellular phone while driving is not only
  illegal, it is dangerous.
• Acceleration and braking should be smooth and
  progressive- try to avoid erratic " stop/go"
  motoring.
• Steering maneuvers should be safe, smooth and
  accurate.
• Do drive with Courtesy and be considerate to
  other road users, including pedestrians, and be
  very tolerant of the errors they may make. (Avoid
  so called ' road rage'!!!!)
• Practice patience and self-discipline when on the
  highway.

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Remember

• Someone,
• somewhere,
• is waiting for you to make it home safely!