The Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center (QTTSC) at CENG recently hosted a training program on “Vulnerable Road User Safety”, in collaboration with the International Road Federation (IRF).
The event brought together experts from CENG, QTTSC, IRF, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and construction and engineering consultancy companies.
The training was delivered by a distinguished panel of presenters that included IRF Executive Vice President Mr Michael G Dreznes, Senior Technical Advisor to the National Organizations for Youth Safety of the USA Mr Joe Toole, and the Road Safety Projects Manager at World Resources Institute Turkey Mr Celai Tolga Imamoglu. They presented on a wide range of issues related to vulnerable road users safety including pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. A special emphasis was placed on safer school zones as well as educational campaigns designed for all road users from ages five to ninety-five years old.
The training was designed for road agency executives; highway and street engineers; traffic management and traffic safety professionals; pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle safety advocates; law enforcement; and research and academia personnel.
CENG Dean and QTTSC Director Dr Khalifa Al-Khalifa said: “The event comes in line with CENG’s efforts to raise community awareness on the importance of traffic safety for vulnerable road users especially pedestrians. The presenters discussed the reasons why pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, public transportation vehicles riders and non-motorized vehicles are involved in impacts that result in fatalities and serious injuries. The corrective actions, including education, enforcement and engineering countermeasures that can be taken to reduce these impacts were presented in detail.”
Mr Michael G Dreznes said: “Vulnerable road users by definition are very likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash with a motor vehicle. Approximately thirty percent of the road fatalities in Qatar are pedestrians, bicyclists, public transport users and motorcyclists. Qatar is growing at a fast pace and measures must be taken right now to protect these vulnerable users, not only in the center of Doha but in the rural areas as well. This training program presented state-of-the-art concepts and technologies as well as global best practices that should be adopted by Qatar to make its roads safer for all road users.”
CENG QTTSC Assistant Research Professor Dr Wael Alhajyaseen noted that the next two road safety training courses will be held at QTTSC on November 26-28 and December 5-7 and will discuss respectively the “Introduction to Post Crash Investigation” and “Intersection and Roundabout Design and Operation”. He also noted that QTTSC road safety training programs are recognized as qualified courses that could be used for Road Safety Auditor Certification in Qatar.