MANAMA, 21 March 2004 — The 20th GCC Traffic Week began across all six-member countries yesterday morning. All GCC traffic directorates began extensive media campaigns to impress on road users that all sectors of society have a role to play to ensure road safety — hence this year’s slogan “Traffic Safety Is a Collective Responsibility”.
The acting director of the General Directorate of Traffic (GDT) in Bahrain, Col. Hassan Al-Sameem, said joining hands helped the GCC countries to address traffic issues more successfully. “All the GCC countries have similar issues to address,” he said.
In Bahrain the day began with 18 traffic policemen from the GCC countries taking part in road patrols and traffic control in all five governorates.
Traffic exhibitions for elementary school students were also opened and school children across the country offered traffic policemen controlling the intersections near their schools flowers and gifts.
Traffic week will also see radio and television programs, lectures and events in schools and universities, and a marathon to highlight the importance of respect for pedestrians.
In Saudi Arabia a large number of universities and schools across the Kingdom announced that they would be taking part in this year’s campaign by organizing seminars to highlight this year’s campaign goals.
The move follows extensive preparation by the traffic departments in the Kingdom to help to promote this year traffic safety message.
Kuwait marked the day with a flag-raising ceremony. According to the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry a range of programs and activities are scheduled to take place during the week.
In the UAE the ceremonies began at the Marina Mall under the patronage of Maj. Gen. Sheikh Saif ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan, undersecretary at the ministry.
Qatar and Oman also plan to conduct a number of activities to mark the week.
The first GCC traffic week was launched in 1984 and focused on the importance of using seatbelts. Twenty years later, in Saudi Arabia in particular, road safety remains a major issue.