Under the ongoing “Accident-free summer”traffic awareness campaign, launched by the Ministry of Interior last week the General Directorate of Traffic continues its initiative with a new theme, this week, on the violation of using mobile phone while driving. The slogan of the campaign this week will be “a phone call could cost you your life”.
The campaign comes within the framework of the Ministry of Interior’s interest in ensuring the safety and security of drivers and pedestrians and their property, and reducing the number of deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents.
A press conference was held at the General Directorate of Traffic today (Sunday) at the traffic headquarters to give details of the campaign in the presence of media persons from Arab and non-Arab media in the state.
Maj. Muhammad bin Jassim Al-Thani, head of traffic at South Security Department said that the violation of mobile phone use comes second among the most common violations that cause traffic accidents, after the violation of over speeding, which ranks first in this list.
He said that the impact of using mobile phone or other devices,would result introubling the concentration and distraction of the mind, which is reflected on the performance of the driver of the vehicle in track deviation of on the road, or remarkable delay of his reaction with the conditions of the road. It could also cause in declining the speed of the vehicle than normal, and the possibility of crossing thetraffic signals.
He confirmed that the traffic awareness campaigns, the intensification of patrolling operations and the execution of legal systems have significantly helped in reducingthis traffic violation, especially after the installation of security cameras in the streets to control violators. This was proven by comparison of violations in previous years that recorded 12651 violations in 2010 and 27735 violations in 2015. However, with increased awareness among the public, these violations have decreased. The year 2016 witnessed a significant decrease in the number of violations of the use of the phone during driving to 10654 violations, which reached to 4078 violations in the first half of this year.
He pointed out that the statistics of the General Directorate of Traffic, indicated that the engaging in mobile phone caused 44.1% of the minor injuries, 52.2% of the serious injuries and 51.6% of the deaths, of the total traffic accidents recorded recently.
He added that this slogan comes in accordance with the provisions of Article (55) of the Traffic Law No. (19) / 2007, which obligates the driver of the motor vehicle not to use the mobile phone or any other device in any way that requires the use of hands for carrying or operation while driving.
The law has used the term “non-use” to be more comprehensive than “not talking”, meaning not to use the phone, in either conversation or text messaging. The Traffic Law has stipulated a fine of 500 riyals on the phone user while driving, using his hand, as well as on those who are engaged in watching any visible material from a television or other devices, with the objective of preserving lives and property. The campaign will focus on the awareness of different traffic violations in the coming weeks as well.
