Doha: The Qatar Road Safety Studies Center (QRSSC) at Qatar University College of Engineering (QU-CENG) hosted on Tuesday a ceremony to launch the "Traffic Safety Ambassador Initiative", and award the winners of the contests that were organized last May on the sidelines of the UN Week for Safety on Roads 2015.
The "Traffic Safety Ambassador Initiative" aims at promoting safe driving behaviors in an educational and illustrative manner at the secondary schools for boys in Qatar with the help and guidance of specialists.
Commenting on the event, Dr Alammari said: "The QRSSC believes in the importance of the role of young people and their participation in various traffic safety initiatives. Road safety is a crucial area of interest in Qatar, and the College of Engineering continues to demonstrate its commitment to citizen safety on Qatar’s roads by engaging school students in a range of awareness programs and activities, and in finding sustainable solutions to the road and traffic challenges in Qatar."
QRSSC director Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: "Road accidents cause enormous human and economic losses for the nation and has become one of the major obstacles that stand in the way of social progress. Most of the victims of road accidents are young people adding to the loss of productivity. Through its various programs, campaigns, activities and research, the Center is contributing to enhancing awareness about the importance of adhering to the principles of road safety with the view to realizing the vision stated in the Qatar Road Safety Strategy, and in support of Qatar National Vision 2030."
Dr Noor Ali S A Al-Maadeed from QRSSC said: "Qatar has a great interest in the issue of traffic safety, which is evident in the decision to set up the National Committee for Traffic Safety. On the 13th of January 2013, the National Strategy for Safety (2013-2022) was launched to boost Qatar’s commitment in the reduction of road accidents and pave the way towards an ambitious long-term vision, providing a safe road transport system that aims at protecting all users against death and serious injuries."
Under the "Traffic Safety Ambassador Initiative", the QRSSC will select traffic safety ambassadors at the secondary schools for boys in Qatar, in coordination with the school administrations. The ambassador will form a team of students of all academic levels.
The QRSSC in conjunction with the National Committee for Traffic Safety and the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior will also organize awareness workshops at the participating schools, and will distribute brochures and posters on leadership role and management of traffic safety campaigns. Professionals in the field of traffic safety will orient the ambassadors on the safe use of the roads, which will contribute to enhancing their skills and abilities, and will enable them raise awareness among their colleagues.
Each participating school will submit on December 2015 a portfolio that includes the achievements and activities of its team. A ceremony will be held for the participating schools to present their activities, and to honor the school with the best team for traffic safety.
QNA
