JEDDAHLulwa Shalhoub, Arab News — Just over 51 percent of people, who participated in an online poll, have disagreed with a new law — which is to come into effect in the next few days — banning motorists from using their mobile phones while driving. Drivers caught breaking the new legislation could face fines ranging from SR100 to SR300.
Out of 39,247 people who participated in the poll, which is ongoing, 18,353 people welcomed the law, while 20,165 said they did not agree with it and 749 said they did not know. The poll is being run at the Riyadh Province’s Traffic Department website.
According to Gen. Mushabbab Al-Shahrani, assistant director of the Traffic Department, the amount that drivers will be fined will depend on their past violations and whether they delay in paying their fines.
Al-Shahrani, who said he did not know about the poll, said there is no need to have a poll to introduce the law. “Accidents are happening due to people using their hands to hold mobile phones instead of steering the wheel. This is obvious and it’s happening everyday,” he said, adding that those who have participated in the vote are seemingly of a young age and do not realize the true dangers of driving while using one’s cell phone.
“It is not like we depend on such polls to bring in new regulations. However, we take people’s feedback into consideration to check the pulse in the street,” said Col. Abdul Aziz Abu Heimed, assistant director of Riyadh Region Traffic Department.
Abu Heimed said that the Riyadh Region’s Traffic Department website has several polls on traffic related topics, including on passengers. “Drivers can use a hands-free kit while driving to make urgent telephone calls. Keeping their hands busy holding a phone is dangerous and can cause fatal accidents,” Abu Heimed.
The officials said there are no clear statistics showing the number of accidents caused by drivers using their cell phones. Various Middle East countries, including Jordan, the UAE and Syria, have legislated against the use of phones while driving.
“This regulation should have been introduced a long time ago,” said Muhammad Ahmad.
Abdul Raheem Al-Ghamdi called for the banning of hands-free kits and earphones while driving. “Being involved in a phone conversation itself is distracting,” he said.
