By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: The General Directorate of Traffic yesterday launched a new service on its Metrash 2 mobile application to simplify procedures for motorists getting involved in minor traffic accidents.
The service, available for minor accidents involving two vehicles, requires either of the two parties to send four pictures of the accident through Metrash 2 to the Traffic Department’s Madina Khalifa branch.
The department will investigate the incident and send a report to the parties concerned through mobile.
The new service is part of the initiatives of the Ministry of Interior to expand its e-Services and save time and effort of the public, Brig. Mohamed Saad Al Kharji, Director-General, Traffic Department, told a press conference at the directorate in Madina Khalifa.
“Now there is no need for motorists meeting with accidents to wait for traffic patrols to come. The new service aims at simplifying procedures for them, especially in minor accidents that cause traffic blocks very often,” Brig. Al Kharji said. He explained that the pictures must necessarily show the vehicles’ number plates. One of the two parties involved in the accident is required to take four photos of both vehicles and send them via Metrash2 to the Traffic Directorate investigation office.
The sender will receive a text message asking him to wait for another message on further procedures.
After investigation, the party whose vehicle was damaged by the fault of the other, will receive a text message with instruction to go the insurance company while the party at fault will receive a message with approval for vehicle repair. The approval can be printed from the website of the ministry or that of the concerned insurance company.
In case the pictures do not show who is at the fault or are not very clear or the erring party can’t be identified through the pictures, the Traffic Department will send a message to the parties for further investigation.
Brig. Al Kharji said the service is limited to accidents involving two vehicles but after a while the department will evaluate it for further development to include accidents involving more vehicles.
“The service doesn’t cover major accidents, which need the attendance of traffic patrols. It includes minor accidents which account for 90 percent of the total accidents and for that reason this service is very important,” Brig. Al Kharji said.
Brig. Ibrahim Mohammed Al Haremi, Director, Information Systems Department at the ministry, said the new service will help citizens, residents and companies and save their time for approaching the traffic investigation office in case of minor accidents.
Explaining procedures, he said either of the two parties must take not more than four photos of each car with some showing the accident location and the number plates of the vehicles and then move the vehicles away from the road so that traffic is not blocked.
He can then submit the photos and information via Metrash2 app. Once it is submitted, investigators at the Traffic Directorate will review the accident and specify who has caused it and send a message accordingly to go to the insurance company or get the repair approval printed.
Capt. Ali Ahmed Al Binali, Head of e-Services, Information Systems Department, said the new service is part of e-Services provided by the Traffic Directorate and can be accessed in all six languages of Metrash2 — Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Urdu and Malayalam.
He said only one party is required to register the accident, not both.
The Peninsula
