The 29th GCC Traffic Week was officially launched yesterday evening with the motto, “Your Safety is our Aim”, at the Darb al-Saaei pavilion near the Sports Roundabout in Doha. The opening ceremony was attended by the Director-General of Public Security, Staff Maj Gen Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi, Traffic Department Director Brig Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, GCC security delegates, various dignitaries and security officials. There was high visitor turnout at the ceremony, with many families turning up to see what was on offer. It featured a host of festivities and events focusing on traffic awareness and the importance of respecting rules and regulations. “Darb al-Saaei was chosen as the venue for this year’s traffic week because it is easily accessible. It would constitute a new addition to the achievements of the traffic department,” said Staff Maj Gen al-Khulaifi, stressing that the main focus of the event was people and their safety. The officer explained that the activities have been designed to address people of different ages and raise their level of co-operation with the traffic police. He also pointed out that the implementation of traffic rules has managed to reduce the number of fatal road accidents. Clarifying that there was no room for modification of the law, he added that recommendations could be considered when the need arose. As visitors reach the venue, they are greeted by some vehicles damaged severely in accidents. An accompanying note indicates that speeding and reckless driving are responsible for the mishaps. It was observed that finding successful solutions to limit the number of lethal road accidents, which claim the lives of many innocent people and youngsters in particular, demands more efforts. It also requires that there is active partnership with all entities concerned to address the issue. “The law alone will not achieve the goals of reducing traffic accidents. It must go hand-in-hand with the traffic awareness efforts of all institutions in society,” Brig al-Kharji said in his opening address. The ceremony also featured performances by students of local schools, dealing with issues such as the importance of traffic signals and national pride. Some of the presentations featured girls and boys in colourful Qatari dresses, which are usually worn during traditional festivals. A young Qatari man who was severely injured in a road accident recited a self-written poem to warn youngsters about the consequences of reckless driving, especially in the Sealine area. Other highlights included a children’s traffic village, a heritage village, a dog show, a modern and vintage vehicle show, a motorbike parade and a horse show. Several activities have been designed especially for children, such as colouring and various games. The participation of delegates from other GCC countries, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, ensured that the event got off to a successful start. They expected that the Traffic Week would enhance road safety, something that they considered a joint responsibility. The activities would continue through the week. These would comprise various programmes designed to instruct the public on various traffic-related issues in two shifts - morning and afternoon. The Peninsula

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