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Hisham Al Jundi
Doha
The 33rd unified GCC Traffic Awareness Week under the theme 'Hayatok Amana' (Your Life is a Trust) will open in Doha on Sunday, March 12, 2017.
The Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) as designated the Darb Al Saie yard to host the awareness campaign, which will feature a variety of activities and lectures on traffic safety and competitions that raise awareness among the public.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed bin Radi al Hajri, director of Trafffic Awareness and Information Department, said the unified GCC Traffic Week had always been celebrated by all GCC countries since 1984.
He said the campaign showcases the region's keenness on traffic safety and coordination between GCC countries to achieve the best results in traffic statistics and reduce fatalities.
This year's Traffic Week will witness new activities, especially involving youngster in the awareness campaign by creating pavilions for school students and conducting competitions for them as well as displaying some of their drawings regarding traffic awareness safety.
The week-long celebrations, being organised by the General Directorate of Traffic, will be opened at 6:30pm on Sunday. It will feature morning events from 8am to 12pm specifically for school students only and evening events for the public from 4pm till 10pm.
During the events, traffic authority delegations from member countries will visit each other and exchange the latest initiatives, regulations, legislations and traffic activities, which are carried out by the competent authorities throughout the past year.
Seminars and discussion will be held to seek ways of enhancing traffic security and reduce road accidents in all GCC countries.
The topics of seminars include 'towards a unified media strategy to spread traffic awareness', 'role of community participation in reducing traffic accidents', 'role of old and new media in spreading traffic awareness', 'role of infrastructure in traffic' and role of women in spreading traffic awareness.
Major Jaber Mohammed Odeiba, assistant director of Trafffic Awareness and Information Department, said the traffic week celebration includes seminars, traffic exhibition, outdoor stage performances, awareness shows, entertainment activities, competitions, lectures and special play area for children, traffic village, classic vehicles exhibition, Police dog show and first aid campaign by Hamad Medical Cooperation.
Traffic Village Officer Lieutenant Abdelwahed al Oneizy said the Traffic Village will host the new Qatari traffic museum to display antiques showcasing the history of Traffic Department in Qatar.
He said many of the pieces at the museum will be introduced for the first time to the public.
He added that the event will include a new 'Youth Lens' programme, which will involve youth's contribution on social media by submitting videos of their own and sharing it on a special platform online for traffic awareness.
Many driving schools will take part in the event and provide practical training and tests for new drivers. There will also be a special pavilion for 'One second' programme and Traffic Safety Engineering.
