JEDDAH, 4 December — Every day an average of 110 traffic accidents take place on Saudi roads, resulting in as many as 12 deaths and material losses of SR5 million.
This was revealed by Dr. Samir Lingawi, health director in Jeddah, while addressing the opening session of a major traffic awareness campaign at the Education Ministry stadium here on Sunday. He said traffic accidents had resulted in a total material loss of SR40 billion over the past 20 years.
On behalf of Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed, Maj. Gen. Saeed ibn Abdullah Al-Qahtani, director of police in the Makkah region, opened the campaign organized by the Interior Ministry in a bid to reduce road accidents in the Kingdom.
“During the past 20 years more than 800,000 accidents have taken place in the Kingdom at the rate of 110 accidents a day, causing the death of 87,000 people,” Lingawi told the gathering.
Jeddah police director Brig. Saleh Al-Olayan underlined the merits of previous campaigns, and said the present one would continue until Jan. 14. Its various programs aim to instill safety awareness among the public and strengthen the bond between them and the people.
