Following numerous complaints from tenants about road safety and noise pollution, the Pearl-Qatar has installed new speed radars along major routes on the man-made island.
In a statement to Doha News, Pearl developer United Development Company (UDC) said that five new radars with a limit of 60 km/hr have been placed at well-known trouble spots:
“Three new radars were installed along The Pearl Boulevard road up to the Qatar Cool signal to curb speeding and reckless driving behaviors.
And two other cameras were also placed – one at the Qatar Cool signal and the second at the Porto Arabia drive signal right before Medina Centrale’s entrance.”
The new cameras, which are similar in appearance to those placed on Doha’s Corniche, do not flash when they are recording violations.
New radar at @ThePearlQatar. Speed limit is 60 km/h. Drive safe Doha. @DohaNews #Qatar pic.twitter.com/NV1EDFPbh9
— Mohammed Makki (@Makks) June 23, 2014
This has led some to think the cameras are not operational:
@Makks @ThePearlQatar @dohanews I think it”s still not operational. Just passed it at 75-80, and no flash! 😉
— Nadeera Rangika (@nadeera_rangika) June 23, 2014
Others, meanwhile, predict that the cameras will prove to a money-generator, given how often people speed while driving around the island:
@Makks @ThePearlQatar @dohanews That will generate more income for Qatar than natural gas
— graham hill (@gjhill2006) June 23, 2014
The installation of the cameras is likely to be welcomed by many residents, who’ve raised concerns about reckless driving on the Pearl.
In February this year, for example, one resident told Doha News:
“Every day I see cars speeding, racing or driving in the opposite direction on this road, yet no action has been taken. I have written to the Pearl’s community master repeatedly, requesting speed bumps to be installed yet nothing has been done, and not even a reply indicating any intended actions.”
Jet ski nuisance
Noisy and dangerously-driven cars are not the only motorized vehicles causing Pearl residents sleepless nights.
In April, many spoke out about the effect that frequent visits by large groups of jet skis to the Pearl were having on their lives. At that time, American expat Kelly Wright said:
“Besides the annoyance of my son being woken by them at all hours, I’ve also seen multiple swimmers almost get hit, because the jet skiers and boats come right up to the beach at speeds too fast to see.”
A few months ago, UDC said that they had reached an agreement with Qatar’s Coast Guard to patrol the Pearl’s waterways. They promised that jet skis would be confiscated if their owners were found to be encroaching on restricted residential areas.
However, a tweet sent by this resident this week suggests the problem is still unresolved:
https://twitter.com/SueAnnMarquis/status/483325312818618369
Despite these ongoing concerns, however, UDC have said that they have a “zero tolerance” attitude to jet skis, and that they are treating all complaints with “the utmost urgency.”
Speaking to Doha News, a spokesman said this week:
“Security personnel are working closely with the coast guard and police to ensure there is no transgression into any areas of The Pearl Qatar.
UDC has adopted a zero tolerance attitude towards this issue and is also working closely with the police authorities to stop this unsociable behavior. UDC is fully aware of the issues with Jet Skis and is working towards a strategic plan to stop this behavior and this includes the installation of barricades where necessary.”
Residents are advised to call 800-6222 to report any problems, he added.
Thoughts?
Yes, because speed cameras have solved Doha’s bad driving problems in the rest of the city . . .
whoops, I drove there at 80km/h on saturday I hope nothing happens..
in my defence for going at that speed. 1) 60km/h for a road that wide is way to slow. should be 80km/h and 2) people around were going at much faster than me so if i did go to 60km/h it would have caused more danger than 80km/h
neither of which ARE valid defences ! its a 60 kph road
your right, i’ll reduce my speed from now on..
but i hope they increase it in the near future, fair enough 60 on the side roads but 60 on the main is too slow.
You are right of course, there is a case for the spine road to be 80, but policed at 80, or it risks the actions of the idiot I saw this morning who turned off into QQ and drove 80+ on the side road to miss the camera…..clearly with a brain size the inverse of his engine capacity
So when you made the comment to me on the other article to “adapt” to Arabic life, I suppose this is what you meant? Violating traffic regulations? 🙂
Still adapting to be honest with you, im still trying to phase out indicating when turning.
After over 2 years of living on The Pearl and now they come with a solution that might not necessarily work since its known to all where the cameras are. As for the jet-skies menace…its getting too much. They are now getting brave…they park their skies at the beach at Viva Bahriyah 18 and disturb the ladies who go down to the beach. Just a few days ago…I saw a mom and her 2 kids run up the stairs back to the pool area from our balcony because the guys parked their skies and were trying to harass her. 2 of them even ran after her up the stairs until her husband who was at the pool confronted them. What is wrong with these guys !!?? I am not stupid to say all are like them but majority of the guys on these jetskies are a nuisance. Donot ban the skies but there needs to be properly allocated areas and restricted areas which they should follow; not forgetting enforcement. No use talking without proper and effective enforcement. We are paying rent for our privacy and security…not for this.
nikki beach has gotten worse since the “bans” have been enforced, before it used to be 4/5 in the few hours id go, but now it’d be 10/15 coming close to the beach. with a minimum 2 boats playing stupidly load music.
UDC is all talk ..
Infuriating… with the rents in the Pearl being the highest in the country, tranquility and peace are an expectation. It amazes me that hooligans like this can get away with this behavior.
We regularly get + 50 jetskis and boats passing through a day (and night – one at 02:20 hrs last week!). Surprisingly we only had one jetski fly down our canal yesterday… unfortunatley it wasnothing to do with UDC’s efforts but a result of Ramadan.
I’ve complained to UDC on many occasions but they just do nothing about it. UDC treating all complaints with “the utmost urgency…” believe it when you see it!!!
I live in Qanat Quartier and recently it has become unbearable. They will often just be driving in a circle in the canal, which only serves to create noise and annoy all the residents. These people have zero respect and the only way they will stop is if a barrier is put up in the entrance to the canals.
Yep – live on QQ too – I often think that some do it merely to annoy residents and people on the beaches – it’s like the “ban” provoked worse behaviour
Yes – I call nearly every single time (I live on QQ – canal facing) – get the same response: they’re sending someone over. I’ve seen how these guys speak to or ignore the guards – they need coast guard presence
The speed limit needs to be 80kph along that road; as for the jet skis, they are still tearing along the beachfront like hoards of gnats.
Who is going to enforce these speed cameras anyhow? The Pearl or Department of Transport?
it HAS already made a huge difference – well done The Pearl this is a huge step forward..
Do you need a license to drive a jet ski? Look like they are the aquatic equivalent of Land cruisers driven by those with too much cash and not enough Respect.-remember that word? I don’t see the laws being imposed on the roads, being personally harassed almost daily, so don’t hold out much hope for the residents of the Pearl.
Speed cameras will only work if the penalties apply to everyone equally. The worst offenders are the ones who don’t care because someone will “fix” the ticket for them. Especially important to see if they can stop those drivers who ignore the red light at Qatar Cool. Huge safety issue there! Waiting to see if this makes any difference…
Speed cameras …yeah they work so well in Qatar….Enforcement…anyone…its a joke the way road safety is addressed, just too scared to confront anyone about bad behaviour, too scared.
I also live in QQ facing the canal and the jet skis are a nuisance! There is no coast guard to contain their movement. In addition to the jet skis are the boats with blaring music ambling along at night. It’s a nightmare at times!
the speed limit is not suitable for a highway road or a main road in the island. The speed limit on a main road should be 80 and 60 or 40 for side roads near buildings or roundabouts. Making it all 60 for all roads is just so frustrating for any driver!
its 40 on the side roads – would love to see that enforced… and its not a highway !
It’s a main road and it’s not safe to drive 60 as 40 is just acceptable for side roads at the Pearl only. Regarding enforcement you could raise this to the Qatari officials, who are doing a great job. As a Qatari living in the Pearl I reported more than 3 incidents and all have been made by foreigners.
As a resident I believe the cameras have been misplaced and have been set at such a ridiculously low speed. The reckless driving takes place on the minor roads right next to the towers which I observe every night I leave my house and not on the highway. Furthermore, it now takes a good 5 minutes to get from the entrance of the Pearl to the first traffic signal on the highway. A highway doesn’t use a speed limit of 80 but rather a more appropriate 80 or 100 as a speed limit
how can they be set at a ‘ridiculously low speed’ – it is the speed limit of the road – you clearly want to drive ‘ridiculously fast’
8 days since this article posted… Monday evening, 22:20 hrs and jetski’s making a nuisance again… good to see UDC’s “ZERO tollerance” and “Utmost Urgency” in action…
Perhaps Doha news can ask UDC when they are going to resolve this as they dont reply to complaints by us mere residents…
You should trace back the jet-sky’ers. Where do they park their cars and moor their machines ?
Also, who is selling them the ski’s – is it the same group connected with UDC !