Skip to main content

Improved pedestrian safety in Qatar

Improved pedestrian safety is being achieved in Qatar with the help of new technology. AGD Systems and Qatar-based Traffic Tech Group have joined forces to install pedestrian detection systems. Traffic Tech Group will be AGD’s exclusive global distributor for the Puffin and Toucan pedestrian crossings in the region to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety and improve traffic flows. On-street trials of AGD-enabled Puffin and Toucan schemes commenced in late 2014 at a dual pedestrian crossing on the busy A
July 14, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The new crossing systems will boost pedestrian flows in Qatar
Improved pedestrian safety is being achieved in Qatar with the help of new technology. AGD Systems and Qatar-based 5456 Traffic Tech Group have joined forces to install pedestrian detection systems. Traffic Tech Group will be AGD’s exclusive global distributor for the Puffin and Toucan pedestrian crossings in the region to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety and improve traffic flows.

On-street trials of AGD-enabled Puffin and Toucan schemes commenced in late 2014 at a dual pedestrian crossing on the busy Al-Jazeera Al-Arabiya Road in Doha, Qatar. This installation has been successful and the schemes have now received approval from the Qatar Authority.

The Puffin crossings use a combination of nearside signals and pedestrian 'push-button' demand units with AGD 640 pedestrian detectors to automatically vary the length of the pedestrian period. This gives pedestrians the time they need to cross the road and if the pedestrian leaves the wait area, the demand is cancelled, freeing up the traffic.

AGD’s 226 radar continuously monitors the pedestrians when they are on the crossing, only allowing vehicle traffic signals to turn back to green once the crossing is completely clear. The fact that the system is detector-based ensures that waiting time for traffic is minimised while maintaining safety for vulnerable road users. This is in comparison to the traditional time-based systems that are still in use throughout the region.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Digital transformation is delivering digital adoption
    August 15, 2023
    Digital transformation is key for transportation agencies and their partners to do their jobs better and faster. One way to do this is through digital delivery using digital models, data, and supporting field tools for roadway design, structures design, and construction, say the tech experts at Bentley Systems.
  • ERF urges greater maintenance of Europe’s road signs to save lives
    March 21, 2016
    ERF has launched a position paper to advocate better maintenance of Europe’s traffic signs. Vertical signage is an essential element not only of a modern and well-maintained road infrastructure, but also of a safe and functional road network. Road signs help regulate traffic, provide crucial visual guidance and give drivers important preview especially during night-time conditions. Well maintained and efficient signage becomes even more necessary when taking into account the ageing population of Europe, in
  • 8th UN Global Road Safety Week – May 12-18
    May 12, 2025
    iRAP offers a suite of free, evidence-based tools and resources to support the creation of safer environments for vulnerable road users, in use by its partners in more than 130 countries.
  • Safety barriers deliver valuable road user protection
    February 14, 2012
    Safety barriers provide an invaluable service for all road users, Mike Woof reports The safety barrier market is a key one for the highway sector, with systems providing valuable protection for all categories of road users. The importance of passive protective devices such as safety barriers can often be overlooked by the road user but is well-understood by highway designers. Redirecting an errant vehicle back into the roadway and preventing it from crossing into traffic flowing in the other direction or fr