“If strict laws are not implemented, it could be hazardous to not only those who drive but also to those who walk on the street,” he said, adding, “Saudi Arabia is called the Kingdom of Humanity and in this sense we have to protect people from harm caused on the road and keep them and their families safe.”

Khayatt lauded the successful implementation of the Saher program and termed it a good attempt to reduce speeding on the roads. He reiterated the call for stricter measures to help curb human and financial losses resulting from traffic accidents in the Kingdom. The number of road accidents in Saudi Arabia is said to be too high.

Khayatt's statement comes in the wake of an international symposium on road safety in Jeddah, which concluded on Sunday.

The symposium made several important recommendations, which included a need for serious commitment by Saudi government bodies and civil institutions to start implementing the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 as the background for making strategic decisions with regard to road safety.

Also, it is recommended that the Education Ministry starts teaching road safety and safe driving to students in elementary, middle and high schools, and further increase the level of research on traffic safety around the Arab world.