JEDDAH: A new traffic safety strategy in Riyadh has been instrumental in reducing the number of road-related deaths and serious injuries.

Prince Sattam, acting Riyadh governor and chairman of the Higher Committee for Traffic Safety, said there had been a substantial reduction in incidents this year and in previous years.

“The rate of deaths caused by accidents declined from 35 per 100,000 cars in 2004 to 17 per 100,000 in 2008,” the prince said.

The survey also showed a decrease in the number of dangerous injuries from 125 cases to 52 per 100,000 cars during the same period. “This will have a positive impact on social, health and economic aspects,” Prince Sattam added.

He thanked all traffic officials who implemented the strategy. “We’ll exert more efforts to cut down the number of road accident deaths further.”

Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s largest road accident rates. As many as 485,931 accidents happened on the Kingdom’s roads last year, killing 6,458 people and injuring 36,486.

“About 70 percent of accident victims suffer from full or partial paralysis,” said Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi, former chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee and professor of Traffic and Transport Engineering at King Saud University in Riyadh.