Doha: Use of mobile phones during driving causes more than half of the fatal accidents in Qatar, General Directorate of Traffic said today.

The directorate said statistics indicated that engaging in mobile phone caused 44.1 percent of the minor injuries, 52.2 percent of the serious injuries and 51.6 percent of the deaths, of the total traffic accidents recorded recently.

Under the ongoing “Accident-free summer” traffic awareness campaign, launched by the Ministry of Interior last week, the General Directorate of Traffic continues its initiative with a new theme this week under the slogan “a phone call could cost you your life”.

Head of traffic at South Security Department, Maj Muhammad bin Jassim Al-Thani, said the use of mobile phone comes second among the most common violations that cause traffic accidents, after over speeding, which ranks first.

He said that using mobile phone or other devices would affect concentration and will distract the mind, which will reflect on the performance of the driver of the vehicle and could cause deviation from the track or delay his reaction. It could also reduce the speed of the vehicle to less than normal and also the possibility of crossing traffic signals.

He added that this slogan comes in accordance with the provisions of Article (55) of the Traffic Law No. (19) / 2007, which obligates the driver of the motor vehicle not to use the mobile phone or any other device in any way that requires the use of hands for carrying or operation while driving. The law has stipulated a fine of QR 500 on the phone user while driving, using his hand, as well as on those who are engaged in watching any visible material from a television or other devices, with the objective of preserving lives and property.

In 2016 the number of violations of the use of the phone during driving was 10,654 violations, 12,651 violations in 2010 and 27,735 violations in 2015. However it has significantly decreased with 4,078 violations in the first half of this year.

The directorate called on motorists to focus on the road while driving, and not to be preoccupied with telephone or other device, as it increases the rate of traffic accidents significantly and increases the rates of deaths and injuries.