Total Qatar collaborated with Karwa Driving School (KDS) of Mowasalat Co, the Traffic Department, and Audi to organise a “Safe Driver” exhibition offering various theoretical and practical safe driving presentations. The event was held on November 22 in Total’s offices, and was inaugurated by Laurent Wolffsheim, Managing Director of Total E&P Golfe, who welcomed the dignitaries to explore the exhibition and simulators.
Total’s Safe Driver campaign was developed by its headquarters in France and was spread across all of its 130 affiliates worldwide, with the objectives of raising awareness to road risks, highlighting the basic driving rules and stressing on the importance of respecting them while encouraging change in practices and behaviours.
When asked about the significance of the event, Laurent Wolffsheim said, “Safety is a core value at Total and we take any opportunity to reinforce our safety culture. We believe that roadway tragedies are preventable. If we can save lives, prevent injuries and improve public safety by emphasising the importance of sharing the road safely and being conscious, then the Safe Driver program helps us do that.
In the same context, Jassim Al Khayat, Mowasalat Acting Executive Director - Corporate Support & Technology Services Development Director, said: “Karwa Driving School of Mowasalat ensures to provide accredited technical trainer and instructors who are qualified with highest competency degrees in this field. In addition, it adopts the latest technology and advanced driving simulators for training its own drivers and drivers of the public and private sectors, and grant them international competency certificates in safe driving. Mowasalat has a workforce of over 6000 drivers for different types of light and heavy vehicles, who work around the clock all over Qatar roads.”
Captain Ali Rashed Al Azba, Head of Traffic Studies and Information Section, Traffic Information and Awareness Department, Traffic Department, said: “Such initiatives will contribute to raising traffic awareness among employees of national companies, which in turn will be reflected on the level of traffic safety, and contribute to significantly mitigate traffic accidents and violations.”
He also said that the Traffic Information and Awareness Department has a special awareness program for community partnership aimed at activating this partnership, and urging national bodies, organisations and companies to play their role and assume their responsibilities towards traffic accidents.
This event comes as part of social responsibility, and it showcased:
Car inspection: Advising about vehicle parts that to be inspected on a daily and periodic basis, in addition to the monthly check, and the annual inspection.
Seat belts: Advising on the importance of seat belts along with statistics on deaths and casualties for not using seat belts.
Accidents: Where different statistics were presented on the causes of mortality and how to avoid them, including: Using mobile phone, and texting while driving; Importance of keeping distance between vehicles; Over speeding and its risks; Drink driving; Driving in difficult weather conditions and and other important advice and guidance to drivers.
Various tests and practical presentations were given using driving simulators and guidance from specialised trainers from Karwa Driving School. In addition, a dedicated stand has been allocated to showcase Total’s participation with the Traffic Department over the past years.
A highlight of the event, which was positively met by all attendees was a made-in-Qatar state-of-the-art driving simulator provided by Engineering Solutions and operated by Qatar International Safety Center, used to raise awareness, encourage behaviour change and offer practical road safety training.
Engineering Solutions is a leading Qatari developer of advanced technological solutions, and the sole manufacturer of state-of-the-art driving simulators in the Mena region.
