JEDDAH, 10 March — The 18th GCC Traffic Week started in different parts of the Kingdom yesterday with a variety of programs aimed at enhancing the public’s traffic safety awareness and cutting the number of accidents in the country.
Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s largest traffic accident rates. According to the latest statistics carried by Okaz daily, more than 400,000 accidents have taken place in the country, killing and injuring thousands and leaving a financial loss of more than SR40 billion.
In Jeddah, Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed opened the traffic week at a function held at the Hera International Market. He also opened an exhibition on the sidelines of the week. “Give the road its right” is the event’s main theme.
Col. Abdul Aziz Al-Obailan, Jeddah traffic director, briefed the prince on the traffic police’s mission and the new methods adopted to monitor traffic violations.
A total of 12,738 traffic accidents took place in Jeddah in a single month with the majority of 7,228 accidents involving expatriates, the Traffic Department said.
Brig. Saeed Al-Qahtani, head of the accidents division at the Jeddah Traffic Department, has pointed out that speeding was the main cause for accidents followed by unauthorized overtaking, running red lights, the violation of traffic rules at roundabouts and drivers’ negligence.
Governor Prince Saud ibn Abdul Mohsen opened the week in the Hail Region. He called upon Saudis and expatriates to play their role to bring down road accidents.
According to the latest statistics, 35 percent of accidents take place in the Makkah Region, followed by 30 percent in Riyadh, 21 percent in the Eastern Province, then Asir and other parts of the country.
More than 10 percent of accident victims join the list of the handicapped in different parts of the Kingdom, Okaz said, quoting the report. “This causes an additional burden to the country,” it added.
Referring to the age groups that cause accidents, it said the youths topped the list, followed by teenagers and then the middle-aged, who tend to follow the traffic rules and safety regulations.
Lt. Gen. Asaad Abdul Kareem Al-Fareeh, director of public security, and senior traffic officers have stressed the significance of seat belts in reducing the number of accidents and their terrible impact.
Speeding was the main cause of accidents with about a 35 percent share, followed by running red traffic lights at 13 percent, wrong turning at 12 percent, wrong parking at 11 percent and overtaking from the wrong side at 10 percent.
Every day an average of 110 traffic accidents take place on Saudi roads, resulting in as many as 12 deaths and material losses of SR5 million, according to Dr. Samir Lingawi, health director in Jeddah. He said traffic accidents had resulted in a total material loss of SR40 billion over the past 20 years.
