Anyone who has been on the roads in Saudi Arabia, as passenger or driver, knows that they are extremely hazardous. Lack of driving skills and little respect for existing laws compound to give it one of the highest rates of accidents. Now, reports Khaleej Times, the Shoura Council has approved a law that calls for strict and uniform application of the laws while looking at ways to reduce traffic. The creation of a ‘metro rail system’ for the major cities, along with plans to create a national rail grid could do much to improve the situation. I’d also suggest stricter licensing and testing for would-be drivers.

Saudi Arabia Moves to Make Roads Safe
Habib Shaikh

JEDDAH – The Saudi Shoura Council has endorsed the national executive plan for traffic safety. It has also called for the strict application of traffic regulations and the introduction of metro rail systems in major cities to reduce the number of traffic accidents.

Mohammed Al Ghamdi, Secretary-General of the Shoura, explained that the plan aims at reducing the large number of deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.

… Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s highest road accident rates. Last year 485,931 accidents took place in the country, killing 6,458 people and injuring 36,486. Speeding and disregard for safety regulations were cited as the main causes of accidents in ?the Kingdom.

Al Ghamdi said that while preparing the plan, the Shoura observed that all relevant government and private agencies and civil institutions must join hands to make it a success. He added that the plan’s success would depend on integrated and joint efforts of national agencies.

The new plan calls for strict and just enforcement of traffic regulations on all drivers, constructing modern roads all over the Kingdom according to recognised safety standards, providing alternative means of transport, such as trains between provinces and metros in cities, and ensuring traffic safety.

Meanwhile, Ali Al Ghamdi, former chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee and professor of traffic and transport engineering at King Saud University, estimated the annual cost of road accidents at about SR26 billion, which is equal to four per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.
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