The Qatar Road Safety Studies Centre (QRSSC) at Qatar University (QU) recently announced the launch of a video competition aimed at increasing road safety awareness in the country.
The competition will target the youth of Qatar to engage in road safety awareness and understand its importance in preventing traffic incidents and accidents. University and high school students in Qatar can participate in the competition, which is sponsored by Maersk Oil Qatar.
The submission deadline is May 16 and the winners will be awarded QR15,000 (first prize), QR10,000 (second) and QR5,000 (third).
QRSSC director Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa said: “This is an invaluable opportunity to bring young people on board and be a part of the solution to reduce traffic accidents in the country. Young people are a large and growing population in Qatar and will benefit considerably from their involvement in this competition and other awareness programmes. We are looking forward to seeing the talent and creativity that will emerge from this competition on such a critical issue.”
Maersk Oil Qatar deputy managing director Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad al-Thani said, “Road safety is of paramount concern to all of us. We are excited to be working with the QRSSC on this important outreach to include youngsters to be a part of this national conversation on road safety.”
Submissions will be judged by a panel comprising a media expert and sponsor representatives, who will distribute the winning awards. Information on submission rules, selection criteria and prizes can be accessed via www.qu.edu.qa?video_competition
Through its awareness programmes and research, the centre recognises the major societal, health, environmental and economic impact that traffic accidents have on Qatar’s economy. Its establishment grew out of key developments in Qatar - such as the increase in population and an over-concentration of vehicles on the country’s roads - that required a specialised centre to conduct comprehensive studies on the causes of traffic accidents and analysis of data in order to arrive at solutions to significantly reduce such mishaps.
The studies will look at patterns of accidents, contributing factors and drivers’ competencies, and make recommendations for approaches that will result in improved road safety.
Areas of focus will be road user behavioural change, vehicle safety, biomechanics, road engineering and the
environment.
The centre is managed by the College of Engineering and works in collaboration with other QU colleges, the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Hamad Medical Corporation, Ashghal etc.
QU recently announced the establishment of an advisory council of the QRSSC to be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the centre, monitoring and evaluation of its activities, review of its annual budget and review/recommendation of the director’s appointment. The council will also identify and support new research directions and trends in the field of road safety and strengthen and support the centre’s engagement locally and internationally. It will meet twice a year.
The council will comprise QU V-P for research Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham (Chair), College of Engineering dean Dr Rashid al-Ammari (Chair) and members such as QRSSC director Dr al-Khalifa, CENG associate dean for research and graduate studies Dr Abdelmagid Hammuda, secretary at the National Committee for Traffic Safety and traffic expert in the MoI Brig Mohamed Abdullah al-Malki, Ashghal manager (road operations & maintenance department) Yusuf al-Emadi, consultant at the Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning Mohamed Abdah, and renowned rally driver and Qatar Olympian (shooting) Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah.
