DAMMAM, 21 September 2003 — Some 220,000 road accidents in the Kingdom in the year 1423H (2001-2002) caused 4,161 deaths, a report released here recently shows.
The International Committee for Traffic Safety in its annual report expressed concern over the growing number of road accidents in the Kingdom. Though it praised measures taken by the Kingdom to improve traffic safety it said accidents were increasing at an alarming rate.
The report indicated that the death rate in accidents was increasing dramatically, rising last year by 6.3 percent over the previous year. The report showed that of the total 4,161 accident deaths, 62 percent were Saudis.
The report says speeding was the main cause of accidents.
It revealed that in 2001-2 more than SR8 million was collected in traffic violation fines at the rate of SR22,000 per day. It said that a major portion of fines were levied for speeding and running red lights.
The report also revealed that in most of the accidents the drivers were found without driving licenses. It expressed concern over an increase in children under 18 years driving, and stressed that parents rather than officials had the duty to prevent them from taking such risks.
Saudi Arabia is among the countries with the highest rate of accidents in the region. For this reason the traffic department has set strict penalties for some traffic violations. For example running a red light carries a jail sentence without the possibility of reprieve.
Radar monitors have been set up on national expressways. But there is no indication that the accident rates are declining.
