Some 93,919 traffic violations were issued to motorists in Qatar last month – an average of more than 3,000 a day, according to new figures released by the Ministry for Development and Planning Statistics.
The figures, which have been released for the first time as part of the ministry’s third monthly bulletin, suggest that traffic violations for this year are on par to tally with statistics for 2012, when there were nearly 1.2 million citations – an average of 100,000 a month.
In comparison, figures released for 2011 were considerably lower, with an average of around 72,000 a month being reported – or 864,000 a year.
The traffic accident figures for 2013 have yet to be released.
The figures come as thousands of licensed drivers and vehicles join Qatar’s roads each month, amid a government drive to install more traffic radars and to increase police road patrols.
The breakdown of the violations includes:
- 18,000 speeding fines;
- 2,500 tickets for jumping red lights;
- 13,726 citations for for “not following traffic signs;”
- 32, 668 violations for non-specified “traffic offenses;” and
- 26,204 tickets listed as “other.” The report does not give more details about these violations.
Accident rate
Meanwhile, the number of motor vehicle accidents on Qatar’s roads continues to rise month on month. The ministry said 634 were reported last month – up significantly from February, which saw 572 accidents, and January, for which 397 were recorded.
While the vast majority of these accidents were minor – 563 in March – the number of serious and fatal traffic accidents in Qatar is also on the rise. A total of 71 were reported in March, up from 61 in February, and 50 recorded for January.
The number of fatal accidents – 13 – remained the same as in the previous two months.
The trend can be partly explained by Qatar’s ongoing population growth. It rose more than 27,000 in March to bring the total population figure to 2,144,101, compared to 2,116,400 in February.
The vast majority of Qatar’s population – some 1.56 million people – is male, while nearly 550,000 are women. March also saw an increase in the number of births – 1,789, up 186 from February – and fewer people dying – 183 for March, compared to 193 for February.
Regional breakdown
For the first time, the report also breaks down action taken against law breakers in four of Qatar’s municipalities – Al Daayen, Al Shamal, Al Wakrah and Al Rayyan -giving a snapshot of the types of crime identified and the level of violations in each area.
For example, it specifies the number of food law violations, stating that a total of 184 were recorded in all four regions. Most of these (148) took place in Al Rayyan.
There were also 34 evictions from labor accommodations last month, all in Al Rayyan. More details of these have not been disclosed, but it’s likely that they were carried out due to health and safety regulations, and violations of the so-called “bachelor ban” in residential areas.
Here’s the full document:
Thoughts?
Average 100,000 per month.. considering minimum fine of 300QR ( they don’t have anything less than 300) , its 30Millon QR in revenue per month, only from traffic fines !!
Its a revenue stream, not an enforcement effort.
Very serious issue
One way to tax the expat community
Not as significant as the artificially inflated rent price taxation.
Which for 90% of the expat community is either paid for by the employer or you receive a monthly allowance for rent…
I get an allowance which is measly compared to the rent prices. Quite sure I’m not the only one as well. All these sharing accommodations and partitioned villa’s are case in proof.
In the end, whether it is company or from allowance, it is an indirect tax that goes towards the local population ( ofcourse I don’t mean all locals ).
Or just expats wanting to live on the cheap to maximize on savings… Generally expats espically from the Indian subcon tend to love very cheaply… Spending only 20% of what they make… Not that’s a problem it’s their choice… But both good and bad housing is available… And if ur stuck in horrible housing and you can’t negotiate something better with your employee.. Maybe your just not as valuable to your company as you think you are
Good housing available in Qatar? Compared to where? You either haven’t seen the houses up for rent over here, or you don’t realise what the options are like in the rest of the world.
Guys, housing rents have nothing to do with this story! Please keep the thread relevant.
the pearl.. al farden gardens… qipco houses.. al rayyan villas… four seasons apartments… dar al salam villas… just a few examples… and yes I know the real estate market very very well… there are also very cheap houses.. made for people wanting to rent on the cheap.. and yes 10,000 riyals per month is cheap for a villa in Qatar…. if you’d like tell me what your monthly budget is and i will tell you what’s the best you can get for your money… be willing to pay 35,000 and you live nicely.. be willing to pay 5000 and you’ll still find something… not much but something..
I live in a Al Fardan compound.
They spend 20% on love? Get married. It’s more stressful but cheaper. : )
loooooool meant live…. and who said marriage is cheaper!
If they’re spending 20% on love they’re either getting a really nice…”one” or really tired from the cheapo. I get mine for free. lol
money wise free, stress wise not so cheap. : )
Even places in The Pearl suffer from shoddy workmanship and breakdown of utlities, leaks, etc. That’s about as high rent as you get probably. My compound is really expensive and I have massive cracks in the walls and they took our balcony off as it was pulling away from the outside wall. And we’re owned by a well known Qatari family/business. One of the top.
Yes, but for those of us that receive an allowance they may not have increased for a number of years ……unlike rental prices. I know I can leave before somebody tells me so, but my wife is already preparing to go.
Which the international employer passes on the Qataris by hiking up the prices for services and operations.
I’d say its passed on to Qataris and expats alike.
Just numbers to show the traffic dept. are doing their job. The root cause of increasing road accidents are still not dealt with yet.
That’s violations issued – not penalties paid.
That would be the key.
Agreed. Do they issue statistics on how many violations were deleted from the system by the violator’s nephew or cousin? Wasta baby! Let’s get stats on how many violations stick
That’s all?! 😉
You will note that the infringements are mostly generated by automated systems such as speed cameras. This does not stop the dangerous behaviour of road users as it happens, it merely takes a phot and the behaviour goes unchecked leaving the other road users in danger. It has minimal impact on reducing road injuries as can be seen by the collision rate. How about the traffic police actually intercept motorists and police the traffic law? To hard? Scared of confrontation? Not empowered to do so?
I’d say a combination of all of those factors but mostly laziness (too hard). Although I’d say they’d love to be the big sheriff as the ones on the road I’ve come in contact with are quite confrontational and some of the worst offenders of breaking the rules.
After 24 years in policing myself my observation is that they are very very poorly motivated, not empowered, poorly trained , without leadership, and frightened to confront anyone who may see them deported. In fact frightened to confront anyone really. They have no ethical standards, or corporate values judging by their own road behaviour. Pretty poor level Im afraid. They are traffic monitors not police. They take the place of a traffic light at times and thats about it. The carnage will continue.
i agree to this. i have been confronted 5-6 times. twice in front of a clearly visible police, who were standing outside and looking in my direction, at an intersection. and what did they do? nothing.
Very impressive figures in terms of quantity.I am assuming that the cameras were responsible for a large number of the citations.Even if 50% of those were dropped for whatever reason, that still leaves a lot of revenue.
Classic chaotic Qatar traffic and potential body grazing….. Simply by most impatient people.