A training workshop on road safety audits, hosted by the Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Centre (QTTSC) at Qatar University College of Engineering (QU-CENG), aimed to provide information on the necessary approaches and tools to develop and evaluate traffic safety audits.
QTTSC assistant professor Dr Wael Alhajyaseen, CENG faculty and staff along with 22 experts from local institutions such as Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment attended the workshop which was delivered by International Road Federation executive vice-president Michael G
Dreznes.
The significant role of road safety audits in helping authorities reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities was highlighted by Dreznes.
“Roadway design standards cannot ensure road safety in all conditions,” he said.
The speaker also provided an overview on road safety audits and their application to roads and highways in Qatar.
CENG dean Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa observed that road safety is a critical issue in Qatar and as there continues to be an increase in vehicles on the roads as well as the number of young drivers, it is important for QTTSC to be a strategic partner with local authorities in mitigating the risks and challenges.
“The workshop was one in a number of forums that will address sustainable road safety solutions and is in line with efforts by the Centre and the College of Engineering to raise public awareness and responsibility.”