RIYADH, 25 September 2004 — The number of traffic accident victims in the Kingdom over the past 30 years is a staggering 950,000 which is almost equal to the population of Qasim, or of both Baha and Tabuk; Hail and Najran regions, or of the Northern border region.
This frightening statistics, which included both the dead and injured, was revealed in a research study carried out by Dr. Ali ibn Saeed Al-Ghamdi, president of the National Committee for Traffic Safety.
In financial terms, the damage last year alone amounted to SR24 billion in lost lives, businesses, belongings and medical treatment, up from SR21 billion five years ago. The loss was assessed on the basis of criteria used in similar studies in the US, the UK, Australia and Canada.
The Kingdom comes first in the world in terms of average traffic accidents, the study showed, despite the fact drunk-driving is not a problem here like it is in the rest of the world. A breakup of figures shows that 70 percent of road deaths claimed people under 40. Of the dead 46 percent were found to be under 30, Al-Ghamdi said in his study, confirming that the younger generation bore the brunt of road mishaps.
Al-Ghamdi revealed that there were more than 250,000 registered accidents in the Kingdom last year. It was also discovered that 3 percent of the population was involved in one traffic accident or another.
More than 4,000 died on the spot of accidents while 30,000 were injured.
Al-Ghamdi stated that the sole remedy for the alarming incidence of road accidents is stricter control of the street by traffic personnel. There should be no leniency toward erring motorists. Additionally, different awareness messages must go out to different age groups of motorists.
