The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) plans to construct about 160 pedestrian bridges in different parts of Qatar in the coming years, a top official announced on Sunday. 
"Pedestrians account for 33% of road traffic accident fatalities in the country," pointed out Yousef al-Emadi, senior engineer and manager of road operation and maintenance department at Ashghal.


Speaking at the PowerTalk Session of the Vision Zero Qatar-Sweden forum, which opened at Ritz Carlton Doha, the official explained that Qatar had embarked on a 10-year National Road Safety Strategy (2013-2022).
“The strategy aims to save 800 lives and avoid 2,000 serious injuries. The focus areas are rash driving, seatbelts, pedestrian safety, workforce safety, and improving knowledge among other targets”.
Every year around 220 people lose their lives and a further 550 are seriously injured in Qatar as a result of road crashes. The National Road Safety Strategy aims to reduce the annual number of road crash fatalities to 130 and the annual number of serious injuries to 300 by 2022.
"A pedestrian bridge has already been completed and opened at the East Industrial Area. Design and plan for about 20-30 bridges have been prepared. Architectural design for the pedestrian bridge at the central vegetable market area is being prepared,” the official said.

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There is a Road Safety Action Plan (2013-2017) that provides the link between the Road Safety Strategy, vision and targets and translates these into a series of practical initiatives to be put in place across all areas of road safety practice. 
“There are 13 key points in the action plan that provides directives on road safety. This provides a framework against which improvements to road safety practice can be monitored.”
The action plan aims to raise road safety performance in Qatar to be among the best in the world. This will be achieved through a programme of activities and projects to be implemented over the period of five years.
The official also pointed out that the strategy has a special programme for school safety improvement. A total of 200 schools have been identified and provided a special environment focused on safety.
Al-Emadi highlighted a rural road safety programme which would improve conditions of roads outside the cities.
“Several of these rural roads, which are of single lane, will be upgraded to dual carriageways with barriers to prevent head-on collisions," he added.