Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Naif recently highlighted the indisputable efforts spent by the government and The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to ensure road safety for the Kingdom’s citizens and expatriates.
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Naif said that all exertions are being directed irrespective of the cost that they entail.
The Crown Prince made the remarks after being briefed on leading changes on the Kingdom’s traffic development plan in a meeting at his office. Top officials at the Ministry, Public Security and Traffic Department attended the meeting, the official state news agency SPA reported.
Crown Prince Muhammad stressed the need to take precautionary 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 emphasized that traffic awareness should be publicly promoted and raised.
“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 officials to take immediate measures for resolving all traffic related problems and ensure road safety and security.
The meeting reviewed the overall standing of the Saudi traffic sector and measures the subsequent measures to improve every aspect of this vital sector.
Introducing an online system that manages all traffic procedures has also been addressed. The meeting decided to open interaction with the public and launch a number of programs and initiatives enhancing traffic safety.
Upgrades, 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, over 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.