The Foreign Office has issued a new warning for Brits heading to a popular holiday hotspot this summer – cautioning them about ‘very poor’ road discipline. The Government body has warned that high-speed driving is common in Qatar, which boasts the popular resort of Doha, and accidents are frequent.
As reported by the Mirror, in the event of a road accident, it is crucial to remain with your vehicle until the police arrive – as it is illegal to leave the scene. The only exception is if no one was injured in the accident and you can safely move your vehicle to a safer spot.
In the latest travel advice for Qatar, the Foreign Office stated: “Road discipline is very poor; speeds are high and accidents are common. If you have an accident, stay with your vehicle until the police arrive and tell you that you can leave.”
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It continued: “It’s illegal to leave the scene of the accident, but if no one has been injured and it’s safe to do so, you can move your vehicle to a safer place. You’ll need to get a police report for insurance purposes.
“Accident investigation processes and punishments for violations may be different to the UK.”
Brits have also been warned to be careful about the type of vehicle they use in the desert – with advice stressing the importance of a “properly-equipped 4×4 vehicle”. While traversing the desert, Brits are advised to travel in convoys with other vehicles, ensure they have an ample supply of water, a functioning mobile phone, and keep friends or family informed of their travel plans, as reported by the Mirror.
Standard driving laws in Qatar also mandate that drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times – and refrain from using a mobile phone while driving. Failure to adhere to the rules can result in fines of 500 riyals (just over £100).
Drinking and driving is also illegal and carries severe penalties including a prison sentence of between one month and three years as well as a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 riyals (approximately £2,100 to £10,500 respectively).
To avoid breaching Qatari driving laws, the Foreign Office advises: “Check the Metrash2 app before trying to leave the country, which lists any outstanding traffic violations. If you have an outstanding violation, you could be detained at immigration and denied onward travel. Fines for all violations should be settled in full before you travel.”
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