RIYADH, 29 October 2004 — A traffic event, to be organized here on Dec. 5, will address the worsening traffic situation in Saudi Arabia, where 250,000 accidents take place every year killing more than 4,000 people; most of them under 25 years of age.
The event called “Saudi Traffic 2004” will be the first of its kind to be organized in the capital to discuss traffic problems. It is expected to update traffic professionals with the latest advances and strategies in international road safety management. “This four-day event, including a conference and an exhibition, will be dedicated to the rapidly expanding traffic and transport infrastructure market in Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole,” said Davyd Farrell of IIR Middle East, one of the promoters of the event.
Farrell said that on regional level also, the situation is pathetic. Statistics show that the total Arab population owns one percent of the world’s vehicles and its human losses as a result of traffic accidents (RTA) account for 4.8 percent of the world’s losses.
The socioeconomic implications of these RTA figures are a cause for concern in Saudi Arabia where it is estimated that of all the deaths that occur in the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health hospitals, 81% are due to road traffic accidents. A total of 42 percent of traffic accidents are caused by speeding whereas 33 percent are caused by tire bursts. A majority of accidents occur because of the negligence of drivers, speeding, overtaking and other faulty driving practices.
Makkah tops in terms of the number of traffic accidents followed by Riyadh and the Eastern Province, according to an official study. “In fact, the rate of accidents reported in Saudi Arabia is one of the highest in the world with an average of 12 people killed daily on its roads,” said the study adding that expatriates constitute 59 percent of traffic violations and accidents, which is contrary to the widely-held belief that more and more Saudis are involved in accidents.
Referring to Saudi Traffic 2004, which will be organized at the local InterContinental Hotel, Farrell said that the event will consist of an exclusive two-day exhibition limited to a select number of companies and a two-day conference. This will be in addition to workshops on ‘Conducting Proactive Road Safety Audits’ and ‘Urban and Freeway Traffic Operation and Safety and Modeling’, which will be conducted by experts from the State of Victoria Roads Dept. in Australia and the Michael Baker Corp. in the United States.
He said that Saudi Traffic 2004 has been designed to address many issues while giving traffic professionals an opportunity to network with local and international experts in the field who will demonstrate the latest in cutting-edge traffic technology and update them on recent initiatives, projects and developments in the region. Leading local and international speakers will share their expertise on a number of key topics including recent road safety initiatives and how to ensure optimal road conditions by implementing an efficient road repair and maintenance system.
Local authorities, including the Ministry of Interior, Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) and Jeddah Municipality, have also offered their support to the event. Zuhair Fayez, Saudi Consolidated Contracting Co., Shibh Al Jazira, Al Haramain, House of Measurement, Gulf Factory for Traffic Lights, Al-Bilad, Delmon and Reda National have confirmed their participation.
