To curb the growing habit of using mobile phones while driving, the authorities are currently working on plans to increase the fine amount imposed for such violations, the authorities are of the opinion that the current fine -QR500- is not enough of a deterrent.
“We are working on plans to enhance the fine amount, with the motive to make drivers take this offense seriously and not indulge in it”, Brig. Mohammed Saad al Kharji told media in Doha yesterday.
However, at this moment it remains unknown what the new fine amount would be.
The current fine of QR500 is imposed on motorists for ‘using or holding a mobile phone or any other device while driving or becoming busy watching any visual object from a television set in the vehicle’.
Authorities have, however, made it clear that using a mobile phone while the vehicle is not in motion such as at a red light is not a traffic violation.
He did not say how much higher the fee would be, however.
Mobile phone usage during driving is not something that is peculiar to Qatar alone, the problem is ubiquitous across the world. The thing that has really compounded the problem is the ‘selfie phenomenon’, people are no longer talking on their phone while driving but they are indulging in clicking photos with their camera phones to post it on social media later.
In 2015, a report had revealed that the dangerous habit of clicking selfies while driving had caused 80% of the road accidents in Qatar that year.
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Credit: Qatar Day
URL:http://www.qatarday.com/news/local/authorities-plan-to-increase-the-fine-for-using/46614