The traffic police is gearing up for the upcoming unified GCC Traffic Week 2014, with the theme “Our Goal is Your Security.”

The aim is to create traffic awareness among the people with the help of the Ministry of Interior and traffic police across the Kingdom.

Col. Zeid Al-Hamzi, spokesperson of Jeddah traffic police, said the theme targets younger generation. The traffic police will distribute jackets to children in some selected events as part of “Generations Safety is Shared Responsibility’ initiative, where private sector is also participating.

The event will run for a week from today (March 9). All relevant sectors will showcase their best services to road users, along with their efforts to upgrade traffic movement-related systems and procedures and improving traffic safety levels.

“We have started preparations for the Gulf Traffic Week by designing a program targeting most community segments in the Jeddah,” he told Arab News.

Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed will formally launch the traffic week at Andalus Mall on Sunday in the presence of Maj. Wasallah Al-Harbi, director general of traffic police in Jeddah.

“We have strived to diversify the means of communication with the public via shopping centers and schools and other educational institutions,” he said.

Al-Hamzi said that students including females are targeted for traffic safety rules, and it is planned to organize extensive awareness lectures conducted by traffic police.

He called on community members to cooperate for the success of Gulf Traffic Week events through their participation, besides cooperating with the traffic enforcement personnel, and to continuously observe proper traffic behavior.

According to a survey quoted by high ranking traffic police officials every day 17 people are losing their lives in road accidents in the Kingdom and more than 35,000 are injured of which 50 percent are subject to disability.