Sunday, 18 March 2007

DHAHRAN: There are three factors responsible for traffic accidents: motorist, road and car, said Saudi Aramco President Abdullah Juma while opening a traffic show in the company premises marking the 23rd GCC Traffic Week.

He called upon the company's staff and motorists to visit the show which has useful information on safe driving. Juma hoped the company's record would be free from traffic accidents, admitting traffic accidents despite strict traffic rules.

He held motorists accountable for most of the fatal traffic accidents, urging motorists to visit traffic shows.

"In order to confirm Aramco's strict adherence and commitment to principles of traffic safety a number of committees have been formed in Dhahran, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abqeq, Rass Tanura and Al-Udilah to ensure the participation of the company in the Traffic Week activities," he said.

Juma said Aramco has produced 700,000 scientific materials on traffic safety which will be distributed to 36 towns in the Kingdom.

These publications and posters, he said, are aimed at creating traffic awareness among motorists. Six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) hold traffic week every year. This year's 23rd GCC Traffic Week started Saturday with the theme "Your Safety in Your Attention."

Traffic police departments all over the Kingdom will separately mark the traffic week with various events, including the mounting of exhibitions, traffic safety seminars, and distribution of materials reminding the public of the importance of road safety.

In the Eastern Province, for example, grand exhibitions on road safety will be held at the Rashid Mall, Al-Waha Mall, and inside Saudi Aramco from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting this Saturday until Thursday.

Over 65 percent of traffic accidents occur because of vehicles traveling at excessive speed and/or drivers disobeying traffic signals. Over-speeding is the number one cause of traffic accidents. Most of the dead due to over-speeding are young drivers who are 29 years old and younger, accounting for 45 percent of the fatalities, according to traffic police statistics.

© The Saudi Gazette 2007