Job Discussion Forums

[lollaerd]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/154257-speed-limits-on-highways-under-review.html

[wilberforce]

Traffic worse than ever but I see vast improvements. At least the D-ring road expressway is open to the Mall but that area is another mess. The link to the North Road is great but then you end up at the Mall construction site. The North Road - or Shamal Highway - is pretty smooth to drive. Still a lot of areas where the roads need improvement.

Taxi situation is still dire. Still only Karwa although allegedly there will be another taxi company soon - however, it will be run by Karwa so how's that for blocking competition and encouraging monopoly. Dubai has at least 8 taxi companies which is great for competition, not to mention a good metro and half decent bus service.

[wilberforce]

Keep an eye on youngsters� traffic violations, says director
Brigadier al-Kharji speaking at a press meet
Director of the Traffic Department has advised that parents should monitor the driving practices of their young sons by frequently checking their traffic violations on the Ministry of Interior�s website.
�In this way, they would be kept updated regarding the conduct of minors on the road. In case they observe a considerable increase in violations, they should act accordingly,� Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji said.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of fatal crashes as a consequence of reckless driving.During a press conference last week, al-Kharji said that motorists usually follow rules such as use of indicator light while learning at driving schools, but most of them abandon the practice as soon as they get a driving licence. �This is a risky behaviour because light signals are the language in which vehicles are supposed to communicate with each other on the road. A timely signal keeps other motorists aware of your next move,� he added.
The director advised parents to ensure the safety of their children, especially when seeing them off to school. �Parents should not drop off their children in the middle of the road. Spending a few minutes to ensure that the children are on the safe spot would often save us the suffering of undesirable and usually irreversible consequences,�
he said.
With many people meeting with accidents while crossing the roads, there is a long-felt demand for more pedestrian facilities such as tunnels, flyovers or pedestrian traffic lights accompanied with the adequate traffic signs. Companies also have been urged to instruct their employees and workers, especially new comers, on road safety procedures in the country. In his last Friday sermon, Islamic scholar Dr Mohamed Hassan al-Meraikhi stressed the urgent need to address the issue of fatal road accidents seriously adopting practical measures to save the potential loss of lives due to speeding. He also denounced reckless driving by young men and urged parents to keep an eye on youngsters driving vehicles without licence.
In a session on the subject, the members of the Central Municipal Council also agreed that standard speed-breakers should be set up in residential areas and near key public facilities, such as schools and hospitals, to reduce speeding.

[idaho_potato]

I agree with this study. I had a big bangup in the Gulag parking lot with a student once. Naturally it was my fault although my car was parked at the time!!!! Hmmm.

[blastermill]

http://dohanews.co/post/43219732872/despite-more-taxis-on-the-road-karwa-drivers-continue

Despite more taxis on the road, Karwa drivers continue to invoke ire of passengers

Passengers using government-regulated taxis have added a new issue to their complaint list: being refused rides due to their short travel distance, Gulf Times is reporting.
Switched-off meters and drivers� lack of general road knowledge also continue to be a problem, as reported last month.Amid regular complaints about a lack of available taxis, national transport regulator Mowasalat has increased the number of Karwa cars and added two additional taxi operators - Al Million and Al Ijarah.
The combined taxi fleet from the three operators is nearing 3,000. But even a cursory search turns up numerous complains on social media:

Oh Taxi Driver, the old �my meter is broken� and my fare is now triple. Sure it is. #karwa #mowasalat
February 14, 2013
This is ridiculous, all taxis are busy? AlMillion all booked, Karwa (as usual) and AlIjara no answer!
February 13, 2013
@dohanews @omarc @moispokesman AliJarah cab driver points to GPS that is locked, says company only gives em a map when they arrive, �drive�
February 13, 2013
Yesterday�s Gulf Times report adds refused fares to the mix, citing a number of examples from residents saying taxis won�t accept them for going too short a distance in congested areas, or refusing to turn on the meter and haggling over prices instead.
Obviously there isn�t one set of practices all taxi drivers practice - just two days ago, a Karwa taxi driver from Kenya told me he �tries to play a little game� in Dafna, ping-ponging from City Center Mall to Ezdan Towers, the W Hotel etc., collecting QR10 a trip with little traffic to struggle through. Another Karwa user told Doha News their driver declined to switch on the meter and they were asked to pay QR15 for a similarly short trip.


http://dohanews.co/post/43219732872/despite-more-taxis-on-the-road-karwa-drivers-continue#ixzz2PZjtmXWQ

[battleshipb_b]

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/240429-a-wrong-turn.html


A Wrong Turn
An apex government committee has suggested that restrictions be imposed on issuing driver�s licences to expatriates as part of measures to curb the chaotic traffic situation on Doha�s roads, local Arabic newspapers reported recently.

Reacting to the above idea, many say it is not the right solution and would rather trigger more serious problems. Since the committee has members from the Ministry of Interior, Advisory Council and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), among others, there is a likelihood its recommendation may actually lead to curbs on issuing of driver�s licences. According to critics, that would be unfortunate, for instead of reducing traffic congestion on the city�s roads, it would lead to a number of other, more serious problems. �A major problem we foresee is that domestic drivers would demand a raise in their wages as, no doubt, they would be a privileged category,� said a critic, requesting anonymity.
The illegal private taxi business that had been thriving for many years but currently remains under check due to severe government clampdowns, would begin mushrooming again as people look for alternatives in the absence of adequate means of public transport, including the licensed cabs, said the critic.

Driving schools would be affected as their business and profit forecasts would go haywire. And more importantly, the sale of cars � both new and used � would be hit hard if fewer driver�s licences are issued. �Qatar is a lively market for both brand new and second-hand cars. That would be spoilt,� said the critic. Rent-a-car companies would have a gala time as newcomers, especially those holding international driver�s licences are allowed to drive here for a limited duration, said another critic not wanting his name in print. There would additionally be increasing clamour for drivers� visas in companies, particularly private ones. �I wouldn�t be surprised if, in a strict licensing regime, even professionals working with us insist that their occupation be changed to that of a driver so they can seek a driver�s licence easily,� said the critic, who owns a business.

Critics say introducing curbs on issuing driver�s licences to expatriates isn�t the solution to traffic congestion. �Its� like curing a simple disease and causing a number of more serious ailments in the process of treatment.� Expanding the road infrastructure of the city, taking steps to dilute the density of population and evenly distribute the population in areas out of the city, and improving the public transport system, including deploying more buses and taxis on the roads, are effective long-term solutions to traffic-related woes on Doha�s roads, they say.

[battleshipb_b]

Fewer licences not the answer



BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
Growing traffic snarls in Qatar can be addressed by developing roads, highways, parking facilities and an affordable public transport system, and by better traffic management, not by limiting the number of driver�s licences issued, say officials at driving schools. Many of them believe that �change in the attitude of some motorists� and �decentralisation of settlements� are issues that need to be addressed on a priority basis to find a permanent solution to traffic-related problems. �Curbing the issuance of driver�s licences will provide very little or no solution to traffic-related problems. One should go to the root cause of the problems instead of finding temporary solutions,� said Omar Kaballo, manager of Al Khebra Driving School. Recently, a high-level committee with representatives from different government organisations reviewed the policy for issuing driver�s licences. Providing the licences to a limited number of expatriates is one of its recommendations for improving the traffic situation on Qatar�s roads. As per the existing laws, anyone with a no-objection letter from his/her sponsor can apply for a driver�s licence irrespective of their job, income or nationality. But if the panel�s recommendations are approved by the Cabinet, getting a licence will be difficult for newly arriving foreign workers. �If the government wants to restrict low-income or unskilled workers from getting a licence, it will not have much impact because they constitute only about five percent of the total number of applicants,� Kaballo said. �Over the years we have learnt that a large chunk of trainees seeking a driver�s licence come here on a driver�s or technician�s (plumber, printer and other artisans) visa but they are actually skilled professionals and diploma-holders,� he said, and wondered if the authorities could afford to deny them licences. �Reform in the visa issuing policy for companies is also an important issue to be addressed,� he added. �We need to address the question as to why expatriate workers seek a driver�s licence. Mowasalat has not succeeded in providing an effective and affordable public transportation system. Is it easy to wait half an hour for a Karwa taxi or bus in such harsh climatic conditions?�

Pointing to the growing influx of expatriate workers, he said: �Soon Qatar�s population will cross the two million mark, and it will keep growing until 2022, so curbing driver�s licences will not help.... Only better traffic management, with effective coordination and cooperation among the Labour Department, Traffic Department and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) can provide a permanent solution.� �Look at European countries; they have more cars, but due to better planning and well-organised systems they have smooth traffic flow. There is no reason why Qatar cannot have such a system in place.� The number of vehicles in Qatar is growing exponentially. According to statistics from the Traffic Department, more than 88,000 new vehicles hit the roads in 2012, and 108,000 new driver�s licences were issued during the year. The number of new vehicles registered in 2011 was 70,000, and about 105,000 driver�s licences were issued that year. According to figures from the Ministry of Interior, there are about 876,000 cars on average on Doha�s roads on week days, 1,553 school buses, and only 153 public transport buses.

Traffic conditions on Qatar�s roads are deteriorating with the rising number of vehicles. During office hours, especially between 7 am and 8.30 am, it can take hours to travel a distance that can be covered in 20 minutes at other times. Construction work on big infrastructure projects such as Doha Metro and stadiums for the 2022 Fifa World Cup will not make things easier as it will involve thousands of truck trips to transport raw and waste material. A dedicated committee that looks into the problem of traffic jams has identified 138 vulnerable spots across Doha, including the Ramada Hotel intersection and Corniche Road.
Then there is the problem of accidents. Experts believe that most accidents occur due to rash driving and other mistakes that can be avoided. �Over 220,000 accidents take place in Qatar every year, which means over 20 percent, or one out of every five motorists, are meeting with accidents. These numbers are alarming. But it�s not due to poor driving skills. It is largely because of the attitude of motorists. Some people know that texting or talking on a mobile phone while driving may be dangerous, but they don�t care,� said Ayaz Khan, training manager at a driving school. He added: �A driving school can improve one�s driving skills, not attitude. A licence is a privilege, not a right. In the US, not everybody owns a licence.�
He said there was no easy solution to the problem. �The infrastructure as well as the traffic management system needs to be improved�. One-lane roads coupled with an offensive driving attitude will definitely prove fatal.�

When asked if the proposed rules would have an adverse impact on their business, officials at different schools gave varying answers. �Stricter driver�s licensing policy for expatriate workers will definitely have an impact on business as the law will directly affect the number of people coming for registration. However, until we receive any official notice or details about the proposed law, I cannot say anything about the magnitude or economic cost of the impact� said Mohmmad Al Zain Ibrahim, executive manager of Gulf Driving School.
He added: �I read in the newspaper about the proposed law, but have not received any information from the authorities�. About 20 years ago, similar policies existed, under which licences were issued only to some people, such as professionals and family drivers.�
There are eight driving schools in Qatar, each with 100 to 150 vehicles. All of them are doing good business as they are flooded with applications from those wanting to take driving lessons. The average waiting time for the lessons can vary from one week to a month, depending on the school and its timings.

�I am in a marketing job which requires me to move frequently through the day. Given the situation of public transportation in the country, I am now seeking a driver�s licence. A Qatari driver�s licence will be valid in all the GCC countries, which will be an added advantage in my resume,� said Abdul Hameed, a relationship manager working with a private company.
He added: �In marketing jobs, the first question an interviewer asks is about a valid licence. After getting it, not only will my employability be high, but I will also get a good salary hike.�



http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/240431-fewer-licences-not-the-answer.html

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/239200-substitute-car-a-must-if-repair-takes-over-15-days.html

http://dohanews.co/post/51632481313/ashghal-lowering-speed-limits-in-qatar-could-save

[battleshipb_b]

[battleshipb_b]

PT much better in Riyadh than here.

Call to improve public transport



DOHA: Many expatriates as well as some Qataris believe that imposing restrictions on newly arriving foreign workers getting a driver�s licence will not help solve traffic problems, and better public transport services should be provided instead. �Doha doesn�t have a proper bus service, and few bus routes go through residential areas. I live in Muntazah area and I have to walk a long distance to get a bus, and taxis rarely pass by the place. It would be very difficult for me to commute without a car. It will be the same for anyone coming to live here unless the public transport system is upgraded,� said a marketing professional living here with his family.

Some people are of the opinion that the proposal will not get implemented as it is not practical.
�We all need drivers, or must drive at least during emergencies. No family would accept this restriction. People will complain and they will remove the restrictions,� said a university student who was born and raised in Doha. �Restricting people from getting a driver�s licence is not a solution to traffic problems. A proper metro system can be the solution, and they are working on a railway project, so we will have to wait for it, although the population is increasing by the day,� she added. Some expatriates say it is unfair to deny a driver�s licence to someone as it could put them in trouble. �Regulating the rules would not help improve the traffic conditions in Doha. It�s unfair to prevent someone getting a driver�s licence when there is no proper public transport,� said a communications specialist from Lebanon.

Another Arab expatriate living here for the past three years said, �Officials should find more appropriate methods to improve traffic conditions. Limiting the number of driver�s licences can be a solution once the metro project is implemented, not otherwise.� Some others said Qatar should learn lessons from other countries that have many foreign workers. �First, the country should have a proper public transport system; then they can restrict the number of cars and drivers. It�s implemented in countries like Singapore. They import a limited number of cars every year, but buses there come near your homes,� said a media professional living here for more than ten years.

Some Qataris fear that the proposed restrictions on issuing of new driver�s licences, if implemented, would prevent them from getting drivers for their families and companies. �I wonder how it will be implemented, because most Qataris have domestic drivers and all of their businesses need drivers. Some require few but some others need many,� said a young Qatari woman working in a semi-government organisation. A Qatari professional working for an oil and gas company said, �I would really like to see Doha roads with less traffic, but there should be practical solutions. Just preventing newly arriving people getting a driver�s licence wouldn�t help unless we have a plan for how they would commute. If we have a proper bus or train service, I am sure many people wouldn�t buy a car.�
THE PENINSULA
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/240430-call-to-improve-public-transport.html

http://dohanews.co/post/52041727584/guest-post-taxi-drivers-in-qatar-are-not-malicious


http://dohanews.co/post/48677626088/report-more-taxi-drivers-bullying-female-customers