Nearly 2m traffic violations recorded in Jeddah last year

 

Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar said that motorists must obey the country’s traffic laws to reduce accidents on the nation’s roads.
More than 21,000 people visited the event that concluded in Riyadh on Friday. Prince Faisal opened the six-day show at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on Sunday.
Prince Faisal said motorists must be made aware that they can cause major problems on the country’s roads by failing to abide by traffic laws. He hoped that the event would help create awareness of road safety among drivers.
The event was organized by the Riyadh traffic department. The strategic partner was Saudi Aramco; the golden sponsors the Saudi Electricity Company and Ministry of Transport; diamond sponsor the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh; and the silver sponsor Najm for Insurance Services.
The event was held over 4,000 square meters. An official from Saudi Aramco said 17 exhibitors from the private and public sectors took part. The visitors included 7,500 school students and 1,500 university and college students.
Around 6,500 children who came to the show with their parents were issued mock driver’s licenses at the traffic park exhibition, where the organizers taught them how to drive safely. The theme of the event was “Your decision determines your destiny.”
There was also a simulator at the event that gave young and old the chance to hone their driving skills. Leaflets and brochures were distributed to raise awareness about safe driving, and the dangers of speeding, crossing red lights, and using mobile phones while driving.
More than 50 percent of traffic accidents in Jeddah over the six months to December last year were caused by speeding, according to Brig. Zaid Al-Hamzi, spokesman of the Jeddah traffic department.
“The administration dealt with 400 accidents during the period. Most of them were on the expressways and many survivors were permanently disabled or paralyzed,” he said.
He urged motorists, especially young drivers, not to exceed the speed limit on expressways. A major cause of accidents was the lack of road sense in young drivers, he said.