RIYADH, 13 March 2004 — The statistic of one fatality almost every hour on the nation’s roads is causing alarm among officials and families throughout the Kingdom, reported Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
According to traffic statistics, 78 percent of people killed are under the age of 45. One fifth are children under 15.
In a study conducted by King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, speeding is the main cause of accidents in the Kingdom, followed by crashes at traffic lights. Spectators at accidents and under-aged drivers are also featured. The list of causes continues with drivers using their lights on full beam, stopping inconsiderately to shop and failing to stop at intersections.
According to statistics, there were 65,000 people killed and 55,000 injured in 800,000 car accidents between 1971-1995 an average of 2,708 deaths per year.
However in 2002, figures for Saudi Arabia showed that 4,840 fatalities occurred in car accidents.
In Riyadh alone, there were 44,681 reported accidents, causing 191 deaths and 863 injuries in 2000. The following year the figures increased to 48,999 accidents, 394 killed and 1,961 injured but dropped to 37,607 accidents and 390 fatalities in 2002.
Adel Al-Qahtani, a local citizen, said, “Most accidents happen as a result of speeding and ignoring traffic rules. It is normal to have tragedies from car accidents here. In other countries, they have strict traffic laws that are applied to everyone without exception. I think it is about time we did that here.”
Officials are now reviewing the situation to find possible solutions; punishment and awareness are two suggestions.
Most accidents are the result of driver error, the study says, while only 20 percent are the result of bad roads and cars. It suggests that with improved driver training and awareness, the accident rate could be cut by up to 80 percent. On the other hand, punishing teenagers when they act irresponsibly could also put an end to their reckless behavior, officials said.
Authorities also want to increase awareness through educating students. A new subject in the national curriculum called traffic education is placing a new emphasis on road safety and includes visits by traffic police.
The Jeddah Traffic Department recorded more than 172,000 traffic violations in the last quarter of last year: 15,000 for speeding, 9,000 for running a red light and 23,000 for not wearing a seatbelt. The total amount of compensation for accidents was SR2.5 million for more than 1,000 accidents.
Col. Abdul Aziz Al-Obailan, the department’s director, said the accident rate declined last year.
They also reported that 52 percent of accidents were caused by Saudis, and 30 percent by drivers between 18 and 30; 20 percent by people between 41 and 50, and 16 percent by those over 60. Nine percent of car accidents were caused by those under 17 who are not allowed to drive.
