Penalty point system
This refers to the story “Penalty point system to improve road safety to be applied soon.” I don’t need to repeat what we all know and are quite aware of the reasons for such a high level of casualties sustained due to accidents in Saudi Arabia. It’s already common knowledge that the Kingdom has been regularly at the top of the list of countries with the most fatalities, due to accidents caused by rash driving and lack of implementation of traffic laws in general.
In my 20 years of residence in the Eastern Province, I have noticed that some of the main reasons for high percentage of fatalities in this country are poor testing standards for getting a driving license, lack of efforts by traffic police to enforce laws, absence of civic sense among many uneducated drivers and the recent influx of thousands of new vehicles due to easy installments and quick ownership.
Don’t forget that there are some other factors too, which are also contributing to the high rate of accidents. The highway entrances and exits are usually poorly marked and not updated or maintained to account for new developments or changes in traffic volume due to added populations. Traffic signs, either they are missing, or made poorly and not well lit.
Even on old and existing roads and freeways, the lanes markings are faded, seldom repainted, as municipalities with limited manpower try to cope with an increase in industrial business and social activities of a burgeoning population.
We all know the hazards of driving, especially in the dark, when one cannot distinguish between the gray tarmac and the barriers of the same color, unless identified by yellow/white lines.
Sure, the Saher system has brought some sanity to the situation, but Saher system is not only expensive but also cannot be installed everywhere. It is also technically fragile, if not calibrated regularly, because there have been instances where the electronic system has made a mistake in identifying the speed incorrectly, which if someone has to fight in court, is highly impossible to defend.
Penalty systems for traffic violations exist in many countries, especially in the West. The penalty points are very carefully determined in such a way as to punish a habitual offender the most.
I request the government to not only copy and adopt a good system already in use in other countries, but also maintain it properly to be fair to a good driver and at the same time punish a habitual perpetrator severely to control his erratic habit.
I wish the traffic penalty system helps in bringing down the rate of accidents to such levels that it would become like a zero tolerance acceptability of rash and reckless driving, and save the loss of innocent lives on the roads of Saudi Arabia. — Muhammad Arshad
Alkhobar Muslim unity
It is very heartening to note recent patriotic statements from leading Muslim scholars, intellectuals, thinkers, writers and poets from Qatif. They distanced themselves from unjustified violence and demonstrations which can only deepen sectarian divisions and hatred and undermine both social and economic development of the country as well as the region. These are bold stands which ensure that a vocal miniscule minority does not tarnish the image of the country. There are many avenues where grievances can be taken up.
Meanwhile, hate and sedition laws too need to be made more stringent including swift prosecution of any one indulging in disrespect, ridiculing any of the religious beliefs of any sect. So many times we hear some sect leaders hurting the feelings of the majority. This too must stop. — Seif A. Somalya, Jeddah
Letters: Penalty point system
