Hundreds of the world’s leading experts in traffic medicine and road safety have converged on Doha for a prestigious world congress which aims to identify solutions to high rates of traffic deaths and injuries. Maersk Oil Qatar is sponsoring the 24^th International Traffic Medicine Association (ITMA) Congress, officially opened today, as part of its long term commitment to road safety in Qatar.

The three-day ITMA Congress opened yesterday under the patronage of Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Congress’ motto is Traffic Medicine and Road Safety in fast developing countries, with delegates being drawn from medical doctors, physiologists, psychologists, traffic safety experts, vehicle designers and manufacturers, engineers, policy makers, police officers, and insurance experts.

Dr. Larsh Englund, President of the International Traffic Medicine Association, said: “Traffic related accidents are a global epidemic which claim more than one million lives per year. Since our inception in 1960, the International Traffic Medicine Association has been committed to finding new and at times innovative ways to reduce harm from traffic crashes. During our 24th World Congress – being held for the first time in the Gulf region in Qatar – many of the world’s best experts will present the latest studies and research related to traffic medicine and traffic safety. My thanks to Qatar’s Prime Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani for hosting this important congress, and to all the sponsors for their continued commitment to road safety.”

The group of experts will share the most advanced traffic medicine concepts and techniques to help prevent traffic crashes and boost traffic safety, first-aid, medical treatment, and in the process reduce deaths and disability cases.

Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad Al-Thani, Deputy Managing Director of Maersk Oil Qatar, said “Road Safety is a huge challenge for all countries, including Qatar, so I’m delighted that we have played a role in attracting so many of the world’s experts in traffic medicine and road safety to Doha for the 24^th World ITMA Congress. Maersk Oil Qatar has a proud history of supporting schemes that bring meaningful benefits to Qatar and as part of a global conglomerate, the Maersk Group is ambitious and committed to Qatar for generations to come. Road Safety is a fantastic example of our commitment in action.”

Maersk Oil Qatar’s sponsorship of the 24^th ITMA Congress in Doha is one of the company’s numerous road safety initiatives to assist the country achieve the National Traffic Medicine Strategy Goal 2013-2022. For example, MOQ sponsored a knowledge sharing visit to the Swedish Vision Zero authorities in 2014, followed by a PowerTalk road safety event this year with key stakeholders in Qatar. And more than 6000 young adults have so far participated in Students for Road Safety – a MOQ awareness programme which aims to transform students into ambassadors for positive road behaviours.

As part of the ITMA Congress in Doha, the state of the art Students for Road Safety simulator will be on hand to illustrate how interactive coaching by experts can raise awareness and help to turn young people into ambassadors for positive road behaviours.

Last weekend, Students for Road Safety (SFRS) took part in World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at Aspire Park. Experienced driving instructors were on hand with the SFRS Road Safety simulator to raise awareness and show how relatively simple steps while driving can result in greater safety.

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