DOHA: Over 51,000 violations of overspeeding and 6,700 traffic violations of crossing red signal were recorded in the first half of this year, a senior officer at the General Directorate of Traffic said yesterday.

“The violation of crossing the red traffic signal is considered a deliberate attack on others due to the nature of violation which shows a motorist’s intention,” said the head of Traffic Planning section at the Roads Engineering Department, Captain Mohammed Misfer Al Hajri.

Captain Al Hajri was speaking yesterday at a press conference held at the General Directorate of Traffic headquarters as part of the ongoing traffic awareness campaign under the title “Accident-free Summer”. He called upon the road users to be careful of committing these violations and requested all media to cooperate in educating the public about these violations.

The traffic awareness campaign will highlight this week violations of crossing red signal and overspeeding which are considered among the most common reasons of road accidents that result in loss of many lives and properties.

“All traffic signals in the country are smart signals, acting through a “sensor” that respond to the traffic condition at the signal, while there are specific times that take into account the capacity of the road and the rate of flow of traffic,” he said.

Pedestrians must observe and take account of traffic signals and rules. A fine of QR500 will be charged if the pedestrian did not follow the traffic lights of the pedestrian path or the manual signal given by a policeman, according to traffic law.

Colonel Mohammad Radhi Al Hajri, Director of the Awareness and Information Department at the General Directorate of Traffic, said that the violations of jumping the red signal will be subject to a fine of QR6,000 and seven points’ deduction, stressing that the ultimate goal of the General Directorate of Traffic is to ensure safety and what is relied on it is to prevent the offenders through a fine commensurate with the seriousness of the violation, and the consequent serious accidents.

Colonel Al Hajri, underscored the significance of respecting law through following traffic signals.

Regarding over speeding, the Article 53 of the law states that motor vehicle drivers shall aide by the following: Not exceed the maximum speed limit for motor vehicles on the road. Drivers of police vehicles, and ambulances and fire-fighters responding to an emergency are exempted, as is any driver of a vehicle transporting patients or seriously injured persons provided they use an alarm and hazard lights and slow down as much as possible for the safety of traffic at junctions.

Reduce speed when approaching pedestrian crossings and residential areas, turnings, bends and ramps, and junctions, roundabouts, bridges and tunnels, and when entering public squares, or approaching schools and hospitals, to ensure road safety.

Control the vehicle and adjust their speed according to the circumstances, road conditions, the state of the vehicle and its load and the weather conditions, so that speed can be reduced or the vehicle can be stopped if necessary.