DOHA: Over 2,000 students from schools across Qatar have received comprehensive training about positive road behaviours at Traffic Village at Darb El-Saai set up by the Traffic Department. The Peninsula
The students received coaching from the Students for Road Safety group in its state-of-the-art driving simulator and participated in interactive sessions led by internationally accredited driving instructors.
The programme is run by Maersk Oil Qatar and the department as part of the national ‘One Second’ road safety brand.
The programme, which was stationed at Darb El-Saai for 13 days as part of Traffic Village, aimed to transform 12- to 18-year-olds into road safety ambassadors.
National Day celebrations at Darb El-Saai concluded on Sunday.
The simulator features cutting-edge technology, including a complete car cockpit and an advanced display system with a wrap-around screen.
A custom-made artificial intelligence engine reflects common traffic behaviours on roads like tail-gating, failure to indicate, flashing lights and cutting across cars at roundabouts.
Maersk Oil Qatar received an appreciation award from the department for its continued commitment to road safety.
Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, Director, Traffic Department, said: “We would like to thank Maersk Oil Qatar for their continued efforts and support to seed behaviour change at a grassroots level in the country.
“As a small gratitude, we were pleased to award Maersk Oil Qatar with an appreciation trophy for their commitment to road safety.
To date, thousands of students have benefited from one-to-one coaching about road safety at their school this year as part of the programme.
Figures from Darb El-Saai this year represent the programme’s most successful year to date, working largely with independent Qatari schools, said a statement yesterday.