The 32nd GCC Traffic Week will be inaugurated at Darb Al Saai, near Sports Roundabout, on Sunday afternoon. The activities will continue until March 19.
While the events from 8am to noon are reserved for official visits, schools and students of different categories, all events from 4pm to 10pm are open to the public daily, with various activities for different age categories focusing on traffic awareness.
“More than 60 government and non-government entities are taking part in the activities,” Traffic Department director Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji announced yesterday.
While traffic officers and officials from the other GCC countries will be present in Doha for the activities, Qatari traffic officials will take part in the Traffic Week programmes in other GCC states, aiming to exchange experiences and benefiting from the best practices.
Brigadier al-Kharji stressed that the Traffic Week’s ultimate purpose is to give a direct message to all road users to adopt safe practices and abide by traffic rules. The topic this year, the same as last year, “Your decision determines your destiny”, is an implementation of the decision of traffic department directors of the GCC countries to adopt the same motto for two years.
Traffic Awareness Department director Colonel Mohamed Radi al-Hajri said this year’s Traffic Week will see more participation from the private sector and civil society organisations in the various activities involved, such as the traffic exhibition, daily awareness lectures and forums and workshops.
The Traffic Department offices outside Doha will feature a number of similar awareness activities simultaneously. Schools and various entities will be invited to visit Darb Al Saai.
Citing a Bahrain University study on the impact of the previous GCC traffic weeks, Colonel al-Hajri said the number of road fatalities in 2015 had dropped compared to the previous years. He also pointed out that social media would be utilised during the week to enhance direct awareness efforts.   
Traffic Awareness Department assistant director Major Jabir Mohamed said there are many sections and activities in this edition of the Traffic Week that blend fun with awareness, addressing different categories of people. There will be theatrical shows, competitions and quizzes, lectures, workshops, a miniature Souq Waqif and a play area for children, besides the exhibition.
Traffic Culture and Awareness Section head Captain Riad Ahmed said the organisers of the Traffic Week are keen to attract families, children, young people and new drivers to engage them in interactive activities to raise their degree of responsibility on the road.