DOHA: The General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior yesterday launched “Accident-Free Summer” campaign to raise awareness on traffic violations, minimise accidents and spread the culture of road safety and security.

“The first week of the “Accident-Free Summer” campaign will focus on awareness on violations of stopping in a yellow box junction. The General Director of Traffic’s cameras at intersections will monitor this violation which brings in a fine of QR500 and it is not permissible under law to settle the fine by paying half amount only,” said Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, Director General of Traffic.

Al Kharji called on motorists to not block the way in yellow box, adding that the aim of preventing stopping in the yellow box is to facilitate the traffic movement within the intersection of all directions.

He added while speaking in a press conference held at the General Directorate of Traffic in Madina Khalifa to launch the campaign that the yellow box violations had decreased more on intersections which had cameras and police patrols. “The motorists have to respect other places also.”

Al Kharji pointed out that the yellow boxes are vital and that motorists should give others the opportunity to cross intersections without interruption. This is stipulated in Article (72) of the Traffic Law No. (19) of 2007.

The law says that motorists shall undertake to observe automatic traffic signals while driving. Despite having priority or if the traffic light indicates green, a motorist may not move the vehicle if such act will disrupt or hinder traffic, and whoever has priority may waive such priority if traffic conditions so require.

The “Accident-Free Summer” campaign is aimed at all road users, citizens and residents, to avoid traffic violations that often lead to traffic accidents. The campaign seeks to minimize accidents and spread security and safety on the road to all of its users.

A number of media channels, local media and local non-Arabic radios are participating in the campaign. It also includes local, foreign and Asian newspapers as well as social media.

Brigadier Al Kharaji added that 50 fancy numbers would be obtainable at the first stage through Metrash2 from 12 noon on Tuesday July 10, 2018, at fixed prices in some categories starting from QR15,000 riyals to QR30000.

He said that a buyer of a number of those numbers had no right to buy another number until 72 hours after his previous purchase, in order to allow more buyers to obtain the fancy numbers.