In line with the recent launch of the Qatar National Road Safety Strategy, the Qatar National Vision 2030 and National Research Strategy 2012, the newly established Research & Technology Department of Qatar Petroleum (QP) has partnered with Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Williams Advanced Engineering and Shell for a project that would look into the effect of vehicle tyres on road accidents in Qatar and to eventually educate vehicle users on the importance of proper tyre safety as reported by Qatar Chronicle. QP has a significant social responsibility as one of the major employers in Qatar. In the energy and industry sector alone, it is estimated that there are more than 120,000 staff excluding family members, representing a significant percentage of road users in the country. Representatives from Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will form part of the project team, representing the portfolios of law enforcement, national standards and national road safety. The project will evaluate the existing situation in Qatar and use accessible and new research data to determine the impact vehicle tyres have on road accidents and how tyre interaction with road surfaces contribute towards accidents. Furthermore, external contributing factors such as high temperatures, humidity and the frequent sandstorms experienced in Qatar will also be evaluated. Part of the project will be educational campaigns to educate vehicle users on basic tyre maintenance such as regular tyre pressure checks and the interpretation of the 'DOT' code, which specifies the manufacture date of the tyre. In order to ensure alignment with other road and traffic safety initiatives currently under way in Qatar, QP's Research & Technology Department will involve the Qatar National Traffic Safety Committee (QNTSC) to act in an advisory capacity for this research project. "Loss of life due to a motor vehicle accident cannot be calculated in monetary value. If we save only one life due to our efforts of this project, it will prove worth the research effort," said Dr. Nasser Saqer Al-Mohannadi, Manager of QP's Research & Technology Department. Source : Qatar Chronicle

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