It was essential that the system should have prevailed with the construction of roads itself as it represents something that complements the traffic system approved by the Ministry of Interior.

If we look back, we can see officials in charge of enforcing the Saher system worked hard to chalk out the basic components of the system before launching it. They started its trial run two years before its formal launch. They made use of the mass media to carry out awareness programs. This campaign aimed mainly at educating road users about the dire consequences of reckless driving and speeding.

Apart from this awareness drive, large contingents of traffic police, including officials and specially trained policemen, were deployed at major thoroughfares and traffic intersections to ensure road safety.

These forces had exerted all possible efforts to enlighten road users on the importance of adhering to traffic rules and regulations, including those for wearing seat belts and not running red lights.

They also distributed brochures highlighting the significance of abiding by traffic rules. These brochures contained pictures of vehicles involved in fatal road accidents in addition to statistics about the number of deaths, injuries and permanent disabilities caused by accidents. There were also details about the destruction of property and vehicles in accidents caused mainly by speeding.

All of these unequivocally pointed to the necessity of the introduction of the Saher monitoring system for the benefit of society.

There have been a lot of people who have expressed their doubts about the system. Some of them have slammed it as espionage while others called it a tool to empty our pockets. These critics have vented their anger and frustration on the Traffic Department.

We cannot forget the fact that the punishment for running red lights before the introduction of the Saher was SR900 and three days in jail.

I respect the viewpoints of all those columnists, poets and writers who have written about Saher. But I want to ask a question: Do you have any idea about the statistics released by the traffic directorate before and after the launch of the Saher system?

These reports showed that a large number of people have died or have been injured or incapacitated due to traffic accidents before the implementation of the system. The death toll from these accidents have exceeded the number of those killed in battle or from deadly epidemics.

The number of casualties in traffic accidents has been comparatively low after the Saher system was launched. This has been mainly attributed to the higher level of awareness among drivers to abide by traffic regulations. Thanks to the introduction of Saher, there has also been a substantial decrease in the number of accidents.

We also should realize that this is not a new system introduced for the first time in the world. There are similar systems already in place in various countries of the world. When we travel in any of these countries, including the neighboring Gulf states, we find ourselves respecting and abiding by the traffic rules prevailing there.

However, we are hesitant to follow the same rules that are designed for our safety in our own country. Hence, we should not blame the traffic authorities for introducing such a system as it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of our roads.

Hopefully, the speed limits on our desert roads would be reviewed and increased. The authorities should fix minimum and maximum speeds on such roads. Most of those using these roads are retired hands or aged people whose slowness, in the absence of a minimum  speed limits, might lead to drowsiness, and eventually to accidents.