Authorities in Qatar are warning motorists to drive with great care this morning, due to foggy conditions that have made seeing traffic signals and other cars difficult.
According to the Qatar Meteorology Department (MET), visibility has dropped in some places to as low as – or even lower than – 50m.
يرجى من قائدي المركبات توخي الحذر حيث تنخفض الرؤية في بعض طرق مدينة الدوحة إلى أقل من ٥٠ متر نتيجة للضباب الكثيف pic.twitter.com/elFVKOyLNr
— أرصاد قطر (@qatarweather) January 28, 2015
. @qatarday @dohanews observations this morning indicated the visibility was 0km in areas pic.twitter.com/dHkqDUcG79
— عبدالله محمد المناعي (@MetQatar) January 28, 2015
This morning, the Ministry of Interior has also urged those who don’t feel comfortable driving in these conditions to pull over until visibility improves:
القيادة في الضباب تتطلب مزيداً من الحرص والحذر .. لا تتردد في التوقف خارج الطريق في حالة انعدام الرؤية امامك .. رافقتك السلامة #الداخلية_قطر
— وزارة الداخلية – قطر (@MOI_Qatar) January 28, 2015
Some drivers appear to be allowing that advice. Others are reminding those on the roads to use their fog – and not hazard – lights to avoid confusing other motorists.
@dohanews the fog is CRAZY! pic.twitter.com/Rs7zLvgxlQ
— Elian (@EMBernales) January 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/agraladn/status/560284454879391745
https://twitter.com/aalsulaiti_/status/560273759412563968
Following lingering foggy conditions yesterday morning, the MET forecast warmer temperatures starting today and lasting through Saturday. Sunday is expected to be a bit cooler as strong winds move in.
What are you seeing on the roads today?
I can see hundreds of idiots using their hazard lights while driving. Their brains are too small to understand the rule: the hazard light indicates a standing (not moving) vehicle.
Good thing your brains are too big
And what with the “no lights” people??? Folks, in fog, and most other conditions, headlights aid other drivers in seeing you. Hazards indicate a stopped vehicle forming a (clue’s in the name…) hazard! Oh and learn to use the fog lights on your car, they’re not just for cruising… oh and learn to turn off the rear one when it’s not foggy, just makes you look like a tool for not know which buttons controls the front and rear fog lamps
Look at you, with all that big brain and intelligence oozing out…. hundreds are idiots while you are the only genius in Doha!
Actually Kim, I agree with him. There are way too many people here driving without any formal driver training. Also the muppets in uniform don’t take any action to correct.
No. They do get training, but the training itself is very poor. I live close to a driving centre in the Old Airport and I rarely see the trainees using indicators. One wonders what is the point of having an instructor sitting next to you and giving you lessons when neither you nor him bother to follow the rules?.
Yesterday I saw an Al Kebra car with a learner AND an instructor, and, guess what? Hazard lights ON while driving! Even the instructors are idiots OR law breakers, whichever suits you.
I’d go for idiots
Only hundreds? My observations put it a lot higher when just looking at driving behaviour and seat belt/child restraint culture.
Well, if they aren’t idiots then they are criminals. Either they are too stupid to know what they’re doing, or they knowingly violate the traffic law which makes them criminals. Your choice, Kim Jong.
Rules??? If we had too many rules we would be living in Germany, too little we’d be living in France….. TIQ…. there are NO RULES!!! 😉
Considering most cars here are not fitted with FOG lights (my Prado doesnt have any…). Using hazard lights is a sensible alternative. Although how your supposed to drive, drink coffee, text and operate hazard lights at the same time is beyond me.
Turning on your headlights is a sensible alternative, but not your hazard lights. So how are you supposed to use the indicators when turning or changing lanes? Or may be you are one of those idiots who cut people off without indicating….
Why? Do people use indicators when there’s no fog maybe? So, though legally not the right thing to do in fog, I must admit that I do notice the indicators first when approaching a car in thick fog. Conclusion, all cars should be equipped with a fog lights. Since they are not, the freestyle usage of indicators outweighs being hit from behind.
Another sign that the government is happy with the import of unfit cars.
Unfit cars? Is it because of three mornings of fog every year? Are the fog lights compulsory in London?
Many amercan cars don’t even have rear indicator lights.. the rear breaking light is just blinking
not true
http://www.quora.com/Why-do-American-car-makers-prefer-to-have-blinking-rear-brake-lights-for-turn-indicators
American made cars have always had a blinking rear brake cluster instead of indicator. Maybe the cost of the V8 engines precludes the cost of a USD2 bulb, who knows? However they seem to be the minority given that Japanese, French, Italian, German, British etc car makers all use an orange turn signal lamp…
fail
Hi Yacine, as far as I am aware they are required in the UK, Irl and Europe as a whole. As regards unfit care, the cost of having fog lights is not that high and thee MOI can stipulate that they are standard. It does not really matter how many days per year we get fog here, the fact remains that we get it. What about sand storms, they happen a lot.
Forgot to refer to the previous discussion on airbags as standard. I consider a car without curtain airbags as an unfit car especially in 2015. The research is already done and the facts are known.
Use of fog lights in the UK are ment to be used if viability is less than 50m.
However some idiots use them whist it’s raining and no fog.
Your headlights are sufficient. Turning hazards lights is dangerous. How are you supposed to use youd turn signal?
Not only that in the sea of drives with their hazard lights on, there may be a driver who’s car is disabled which means someone could easily smash into the back of the car because they thought they were just on because of the fog.
I used to switch on my hazards whenever there was a fog. but then i got thinking how will the person behind me know when i will be turning if i had my hazards on. this was a few years back. and i use both my headlights and fog lights during a fog nowadays.
nowadays since most people don’t use turn signals while changing lanes or turning no wonder they use their hazard lights during a fog they just don’t want to indicate where/when they want to turn.
I witnessed a few near missed at the roundabouts en route to work this morning.
Surprise surprise, when you attempt to drive through a roundabout with your hazards on, people will get confused.
It’s a pretty simple rule – you never drive in fog with your hazards on. How hard is it for that to sink in?
If you have brain, use it and understand!!!! one of the category mentioned above
wow don’t hurt yourself typing that comment
Seems to cause an uproar amongst the brits everytime there’s fog and hazard lights. Seeing and being seen is important, as someone mentioned some cars don’t have the fog lights on there, also don’t drive in the UK with your fog lights on if there’s no fog, you’ll be bombarded with high beams and honking, seems to be a sensitive point, perhaps drilled in during driving schools
Rules? What Rules this is Qatar roads my man.
Here is a quick article written by the AA (Automobile Association) about how to dive safely in foggy conditions, I hope you find it informative.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seasonal/driving-in-fog.html
very good tips.
If you have brain, use it and understand!!!!
Doha, 22 December, 2014: Experts from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) are advising motorists to take extra care when driving in foggy weather conditions in Qatar, particularly during the mornings and early evenings, when the fog reduces visibility on the roads to only a few hundred meters or less.
“The foggy weather we are seeing at the moment creates dangerous conditions for road users and we are advising the public to take extra precautions to ensure their safety on the road,” said Dr. Rafael Consunji, Director of the Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP) at HMC’s Trauma Surgery Section.
HIPP recommends the following best practices for road users in foggy conditions, with the aim of preventing many injuries and deaths due to fog-related crashes.
Drivers should follow these steps:
Listen to weather forecasts and general advice about driving conditions on local radio or TV, and plan your route to avoid areas with heavy fog. If possible, start your trip earlier to avoid rushing during foggy conditions.
Exercise extra patience and restraint. Your daily journey will be slower and will take more time in the fog because all road users will have limited visibility.
Drivers and all passengers must wear a seatbelt on every trip. This is the only proven way to prevent severe injuries and deaths in motor vehicle crashes.
Slow down and avoid sudden stops or acceleration; other drivers will not be able to see you and make the necessary adjustments in a timely manner. You may have to drive at less than half the speed limit to ensure safety for all road users in your vicinity. Keep to a speed that will allow you to stop within the distance that you can see.
Increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front to more than normal so you can brake safely.
Dip or turn on your headlights on low beam only, as the high beams reflect off the fog and will impair your visibility and that of other drivers. If you have fog lights, use them, but turn them off when the fog has dispersed and visibility is better.
Avoid distractions such as mobile phones, earphones or the stereo, so you can pay full attention to the road conditions. Wind down your windows during very low visibility so you can hear oncoming vehicles.
Reduce overtaking or changing lanes in heavy fog, and make full use of your signal lights for every turn and lane change.
Use the road markers on the right side of the road as your guide and do not blindly follow the vehicle in front, which may leave the road for whatever reason.
Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as they are very difficult to see during foggy periods. Request your passengers to help you by looking out for other vehicles or obstacles.
Don’t use your emergency flashers or hazard lights unless you are pulling off the road to park your vehicle, which you should do if visibility is decreasing rapidly or if the fog is too dense to continue. Once parked, move away from the vehicle to a location that is well away from the road and allows you to look out for oncoming vehicles.
Make sure your windows and mirrors are clean before your trip, and use your defroster and wipers to maximize your vision. For fastest defogging, use the AC with the temperature set at ‘hot’, which will also clear condensation from other windows.
Motorcyclists should use reflective jackets or vests and running lights to increase their visibility for other road users.
If you are a pedestrian or cyclist:
Focus on the road and avoid distractions such as using your mobile phone. If you can, delay your trip until when the fog clears.
Wear high-visibility clothing such as reflective vests or brightly colored clothing. Attach a light to your bicycle or carry a torch or flashlight.
Make sure to use the bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and sidewalks constructed especially for you.
Walk in the direction facing the traffic flow so you can see oncoming vehicles and they will not suddenly emerge from behind or beside you.
Be extremely mindful in the vicinity of construction sites, road works, open water, canals, lakes, ponds or coastal piers, as they can pose unseen hazards in your path.
This text is too long. This passage is sufficient: “Don’t use your emergency flashers or hazard lights unless you are pulling off the road to park your vehicle.”