DOHA: The Traffic Department has introduced a unified curriculum for driving schools for theoretical lessons that focus on rules of safe driving.
The learners will not be permitted to go for the practical test unless they cleared the theoretical test based on this guide, a senior official of the Traffic Department has said.
“The purpose of the guide is to prepare drivers who are familiar with safe driving rules and conversant with all safety requirements for motor vehicles. Unfortunately, there are many drivers who pass the driving tests without being familiar with many of the foundations of safe driving, and the importance of giving signals while turning and changing signals”, said Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, Director of the Traffic Department.
The “driving guide for light vehicles’ was released in a meeting attended by senior Traffic Department officials and representatives of the driving schools.
The guide provides details about acts that increase the risks on the road, the importance of seat belt and air bag protection, safety of children and infants in the vehicles, driving in different conditions like rainy weather, fog and sandy winds and driving at night.
It also underlines the risk of using mobile phones and other things while driving that distracts the attention and concentration of the driver.
“We note that for some motorists’ the only concern is to know how to start the car and drive. Some do not know what the dashboard meters mean?” said Al Kharji.
“In this guide we have provided lessons on tire safety, works of different lights in the car, how to check the level of engine oil, brake oil and automatic transmission, and the level of engine cooler solutions, as well as emergency equipment,” he added.
He said that these details are important for each driver not to get perplexed when the vehicles breaks down at the road and block the traffic or cause an accident.
He stressed the need for training house drivers in different types of vehicles. Such drivers are trained on small light vehicles but once they get license they start driving sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Their non-familiarity with city routes also creates problem, he noted.
As a solution, he asked schools to train house drivers on using different types of light vehicles and spend some of their training time to get acquainted with important government offices, health facilities, shopping destinations and other public places.
The guide was prepared based on many references including Traffic Law No.19/2007, safe driving guides of some Arab countries and the Canadian and Australian safe driving guides.
It is classified into five main chapters covering all the foundations of safe driving in addition to a section on traffic violations. It also contains a questionnaire for trainees tiled “Test Yourself”
The releasing ceremony was also attended by head of licensing section at the Department Colonel Saqr Salem Al Muraikhi and officer at drivers’ testing committee Lieutenant Jamal Majli Mubarak.
Representatives from eight driving schools – Karwa Training Centre, Doha Academy for Driving, Al Raya Driving School, Al Mutahida Driving Institute, Al Khebra Driving School, Qatar Driving Institute, Gulf Driving School and Al Hasba Driving School- were also present.
The Peninsula
