JEDDAH, 30 April 2006 — “Enough” is the catchword of a month-long traffic campaign that tells Saudis and expatriates around the Kingdom that it is time for them to stop reckless driving.
Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman inaugurated the campaign in the capital and called upon the public to abide by traffic and safety regulations.
“All state agencies are working to reduce traffic accidents and ensure smooth flow of vehicles,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.
He urged Saudis and expatriates to cooperate with traffic and security agencies in order to achieve the goals set by the campaign. He said schools and mosques should also play a role in enlightening the public including young men and women about the dangers of reckless driving.
“It may be impossible to prevent traffic accidents completely. However, we all have to try to reduce the number of accidents as far as possible,” Prince Salman said.
He noted the government’s efforts to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the capital’s main roads as well as streets of residential neighborhoods.
Prince Salman later inspected a model traffic village before opening an exhibition held on the sidelines of the campaign. Top officials including Mayor Prince Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin, and Lt. Gen. Saeed Al-Qahtani, director of public security, attended the launching ceremony.
In Jeddah, Gov. Prince Mishaal ibn Majed opened the campaign. He saw a presentation on the number of accidents that occurred last year and their causes. “This campaign targets all groups of society in order to ensure safety of people on our roads and streets,” he said.
Prince Mishaal warned that violators of traffic regulations would receive tough punishment. “The government has set out a system to ensure traffic safety,” he said.
Makkah traffic police held an exhibition at Al-Hokair Recreation Center as part of the campaign in the holy city. The exhibits showed that most accidents were caused by speeding and running red lights. Col. Ahmad Al-Otaibi, director of Makkah Traffic Department, said the campaign was aimed at enhancing traffic awareness of drivers, especially young Saudi men by enlightening them on the dangers posed by reckless driving.
A number of government departments are taking part in the campaign to make it a success. They include the armed forces, the National Guard, Health Department, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Red Crescent Society and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology.
