As a regional initiative, originated from the partnership with RoadSafetyUAE, QIC Insured now introduces the Road Safety Monitor, which is a bi-annual survey done by YouGov for QIC Insured, to gauge how drivers experience the roads and the traffic in the State of Qatar

• 76 % experience an increase in drivers speeding on the roads over the last six months
• 86 % see more distracted drivers on the roads than in last six months (texting or talking on the phone, reading the newspaper etc.)
• 61 % agree that the roads and the infrastructure has improved

Doha, March 7th, 2016: Qatar’s motorists applaud the government’s efforts to further improve road infrastructure but at the same time 76 % experience a longer daily commute to work and 62 % feel the roads have become more dangerous over the last six months, according to the QIC Insured Road Safety Monitor

The study, commissioned by QIC Insured is the first of a planned ongoing study to quantify perception trends of motorists about: infrastructure, the overall driving enjoyment, commute time, driving behavior (linked to the main causes of accidents, injuries and fatalities), and fines & accidents

This cycle was conducted by YouGov in February 2016, and based on an idea by and in partnership with RoadSafetyUAE, who did the first cycle back in April 2015 for UAE. The monitor for Qatar is based on the views of a representative sample amongst the residents in Qatar

Commenting on the QIC Insured Road Safety Monitor, Salem Al-Mannai, Deputy Group President and CEO of QIC – MENA region said: “We are proud to introduce this unique long term perception study in Qatar, as it provides hard facts to us and all concerned stakeholders to work in the right direction with regards to making the roads safer. Furthermore, it supports the efforts of QIC Insured to actively support the creation of safer roads.”

Respondents applaud the efforts of Qatar government institutions to build new roads, bridges and access roads; with 61 % reporting that road infrastructure has improved over the last six months

However, 56 % of respondents say they enjoy driving on Qatar’s roads less than six months ago, compared to 30% who enjoy it more now

An unlucky 76 % report a longer drive to work, while only 21% feel the daily commute has become faster

Driving behavior, more reckless driving behavior and large increase in distracted drivers Whilst the government works hard to improve road facilities, the driving culture is seen as a big challenge

76 % of respondents say they have seen more speeding vehicles on the roads in the last 6 months, 76 % perceive more tailgating, 86 % more distracted driving and 77 % more abrupt lane changing (#1 killer on our roads!)

62 % believe that Qatar’s roads have become more dangerous in the last 6 months while only 22 % believe they have become less dangerous

Mr. Frederik Bisbjerg, Executive Vice President, MENA Retail, Qatar Insurance Company explains, “safer roads is a benefit for all, families, businesses, government and insurers, and we as the leading insurer have a real opportunity to play a part in affecting how people drive – the government teaches drivers how to drive safe and fines them when they break the rules, and we as an insurer can offer safe drivers a ‘carrot’ in the form of lower insurance premiums – this monitor is an important step in understanding how QIC Insured can play a role for safer roads in Qatar”

QIC Insured Road Safety Monitor is an initiative from Qatar Insurance Company that generates data and increases public awareness on the causes of poor driving to encourage a safety-first motoring culture. In its first cycle, in February 2016, a representative sample of 127 residents living in the State of Qatar were surveyed online by YouGov. Detailed findings of the survey can be viewed at Roadsafety.qic-insured.com

Arabic