Crown Prince voices concern over surge in road accidents

CROWN Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, has underscored the keenness of the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on ensuring the safety of citizens and expatriates irrespective of the cost that entails for exerting all efforts in this respect. The Crown Prince made the remarks after he was briefed on the salient features of the Kingdom’s Strategic Traffic Development Plan in a meeting at his office in Riyadh on Wednesday night. Senior officials at the Ministry, Public Security and Traffic Department attended the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Crown Prince Muhammad underlined the need to take all the measures to prevent traffic accidents in the Kingdom. “It is disturbing for all of us that a large number of road accidents claim lives of many of our children. The traffic sector is extremely important and I know the significance of the work you are carrying out as well as your responsibility to curb traffic accidents,” he said.

The Crown Prince also emphasized that there should be dissemination of comprehensive traffic awareness reaching all sections of society, including citizens and expatriates across the Kingdom. “It is indispensable to ensure participation of the people in all types of activities that help enhance traffic safety and remove the causes of accidents,” the Crown Prince said while directing the officials to take immediate measures to solve all traffic related problems and ensure safety and security of the lives and properties of road users.

The meeting reviewed the overall situation of the traffic sector in the Kingdom and measures to improve every aspect of this vital sector, especially introduction of the online system for all traffic procedures. The meeting decided to open all avenues of interaction with the public and launch a number of programs and initiatives to enhance traffic safety. These programs and initiatives will be implemented in coordination with the concerned departments and agencies such as ministries of commerce, transport, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Public Transport Company, Saudi Post and the universities.

Prince Bandar Al-Moshari, assistant minister of interior for technical affairs, Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Saud Bin Naif, advisor to the minister of interior, Abdurahman Al-Robaian, deputy minister of interior, Lt. Gen. Othman Al-Mehrej, director of Public Security and Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Zahrani, director of Traffic Department, also attended the meeting.

According to a recent report, more than 1.2 million people die annually in road accidents in the Kingdom. “Saudi Arabia records 526,000 accidents annually with up to 17 deaths daily, said Ahmad Al-Shaikha, head of Friends of the Red Crescent Committee. “A total of SR21 billion is spent annually on road accidents. Saudi Arabia is ranked 23rd on the list of countries witnessing the highest death rates in road accidents in the world. It is second among Arab countries in terms of road deaths,” he pointed out.