DOHA: Buses and mini vans that are not air-conditioned will not qualify for issuance or renewal of road permits, in keeping with new rules being enforced by the Traffic Department beginning next month.
The new requirements that will come into force by the beginning of July have been made mandatory for technical inspections for the annual renewal of road permits, said the department.
Once the rules are implemented, the hundreds of buses in Qatar plying company workers and employees will be required to install air conditioners and meet other additional requirements, if the owners want to get their road permits renewed.
The new rules apply to all vehicles with a seating capacity of 11 or more. They apparently include all buses and mini vans belonging to companies and schools used to transport students, workers and other employees.
The new regulations include six additional requirements for such vehicles which the Traffic Department said is intended to ensure the safety of passengers, Al Sharq reported.
The Department said these additional requirements are mandatory for the annual renewal of road permits.
As per the new rules, the vehicles should be fully air conditioned. They should have all their glasses insulated or tinted (at least 30 percent), except the front wind screen and window glasses on the left and right sides of the driver’s seat.
This apparently is to provide extra comfort and cooling for the passengers.
A reflecting sticker in yellow and black should be affixed on the rear bumper of the vehicles.
In case the distance between the ground and rear bumper exceeds 55 centimetres, an additional safety bumper should be fixed with a phosphoric (light yellow) sticker on it, which meets the GCC specifications.
On the door on the driver’s side, the weight of the vehicle-when it is loaded and unloaded — and the passenger capacity should be written in a black and white coloured sticker.
Buses with a capacity of 50 passengers or more should have beacons on rear and on the top that are connected to central lighting system. The Department has urged owners of all buses to comply with the new requirements within the deadline.
The Peninsula
