According to Traffic Department statistics, there were 485,931 accidents on the Kingdom’s roads last year, claiming the lives of 18 people every day on average.

This is the equivalent of one death every 90 minutes, while an accident-related injury or disability occurs every 15 minutes.

According to statistics, a road accident is four times as likely to occur when using a mobile phone while driving than being impaired by medication.

A recent study conducted by the University of Utah on driving and mobile phone use found that 97.5 percent of drivers are mentally unable to drive safely while using hand-held devices.

Drivers who are caught using a mobile phone while driving face a fine of SR200 while not wearing a seat belt carries a penalty of SR100. However, local motorists say the adage “why obey the law if you won’t get caught” is one that could be applied to traffic policing.

“There are plenty of laws that are never enforced, such as child safety and seat belt laws. Laws prohibiting speeding and talking on a cell phone while driving are no different. It is virtually impossible to see any traffic officer stopping anyone for a simple traffic violation. This is why the majority of people do not follow the laws,” Saudi motorist Adel M. told Arab News.

The Jeddah Traffic Department say they launched a stringent campaign last month to enforce traffic regulations by setting up checkpoints, using unmarked police cars and making sure passengers are wearing seat belts and not driving through red lights.

“None of these campaigns work because the police are not enforcing them by chasing violators down like in other countries,” says Makkah taxi driver Mohammed.

“Someone who sees a checkpoint will immediately put on his or her seat belt, pass the checkpoint, and then take the belt off again. In addition, if someone is stopped at a checkpoint, how will they be caught running a traffic light? There needs to be a more active method of making sure the laws are followed and that responsibility lies with the traffic police.”

However, traffic police say they are doing all they can to enforce traffic laws. “In conjunction with the new Saher Traffic System, which operates from a set of cameras at most major intersections around the city, we are able to have officers covering the small streets and setting up checkpoints and relaying information in order to catch traffic violators,” Makkah’s Traffic Department head Fawzi Al-Ansari told Arab News.

“We have been chasing down violators who speed through red lights at intersections and send out police officers in unmarked cars to combat the problem.”

He claimed that all roads are watched and traffic laws enforced and that his department has recorded a decrease in accidents over the past few months.

However, Al-Ansari also stressed that every driver needed to play his part in protecting his life and others in the Kingdom by adhering to traffic laws.