DAMMAM, 8 August 2007 — As a traffic police officer approaches a car caught breaking the speed limit, the occupant of the car shifts nervously as he prepares an excuse that will hopefully save him from a traffic citation. However, instead of getting a ticket, the young offender is given a lecture on the dangers of speeding. This novel method of approaching traffic violators, is practiced by a police officer here who relies on educating violators with his short lectures and picture book of freak traffic accidents, the daily Al-Madinah reported yesterday. The police officer believes that talking with violators is much more effective than giving them fines. He added that to his surprise, many young drivers did not know the dangers of fast driving and had never seen real life pictures of injured and paralyzed drivers. His theory is that since traffic fines are not meant for profit but rather to discourage violators from repeating offenses, why not talk to them instead?
