DOHA: The campaign to make schools safe from road accidents reeled off with senior officials from the Traffic Department and IBQ taking the lead during the launch of "Schools without Accident" programme yesterday.
This year's campaign to promote road safety awareness will be held in two phases involving some 21 public and private secondary schools across Qatar.
Just like in the previous years, the "Schools without Accidents" programme is focused mainly on the teenage school youth to make them more aware on driving safely while on the road if only to minimise the cases of accidents.
Adel Hussien, "Schools without Accidents" campaign director, said there is a greater need to heighten their awareness drive of the students considering that the number of cars taking the streets in Qatar have been increasing with 10,000 more enrolled with their agency this year.
"The chances of accidents and percentage of deaths has decreased this year but the figures are still big enough," Hussien said.
He clarified a media enquiry that there are many accident prone areas nowadays saying accidents that happen are not about places but behaviour of the drivers.
Mohamad Kamal, Deputy General Manager of IBQ, said their bank has been an active partner of this campaign in the previous years as their contribution to intensify the road safety awareness drive.
"We are part of the society and we feel it is our responsibility to help the traffic department in educating the youth."
The campaign will be held in two phases, the first which started yesterday runs until December 31 this year and comprises a range of educational seminars held daily which will focus on road risks and safety guidelines.
Students will witness live demonstrations in cars on a purpose-built circuit which will take place in a special facility facing the Athletes' Village in Doha.
The second phase of the campaign will be a quiz competition among students on the theme of educational and social topics relating to the campaign objectives of which QR40,000 is at stake for the winning team and QR20,000 for the runner up.
Lt Col Ibrahim Al Nasser, secretary general of the national campaign was also present at the launch.
By Chris V Panganiban
© The Peninsula 2009
