New mechanism for Saher system launched

JEDDAH: The General Directorate for Traffic has developed a new mechanism to operate the automated violation detection system, Saher, an official from the directorate told local media.
The automated Saher system was started on November 1 by the Ministry of Interior with the direct supervision of the traffic directorate. The full transfer of the operations will be completed in two months.
The move follows a string of meetings held by the action team, during which they discussed the mechanism to transfer operations to the Ministry of Interior under the direct supervision of the traffic directorate.
The official was quoted as saying that the new mechanism will be different from the previous one. The Saher system will be expanded at a later stage to increase in the future phase.
The new operational mechanism totally rejects some of the wrong practices of old system such as hiding the cameras and vehicles of Saher behind overpasses and underpasses or in trees to catch violators.
“The cameras will be visible by everybody because the goal of the system is to reduce traffic accidents and raise awareness among motorists, and not just punish for violations and take people’s money,” said the official.
He said a fixed radar camera will be installed at the side of the road or on a pole so motorists will have to pay attention all the way to see the warning signs and the cameras.
“Most importantly, motorists must abide by the speed limits assigned when the system is operational. The system is not intended to annoy motorists by hiding the cameras; it only seeks to spread the culture of correcting driving practices to ensure the safety of people by discouraging recklessness and irresponsible driving,” he said.
The official said, "The value of the traffic ticket will increase to its maximum if it is not paid within a month of registering it in the system. But we already inform violators of the traffic violations through text messages,” he added.
The source said the traffic directorate activated the communication process with citizens using social media sites such as Twitter. He said all those working in the Saher system will be employed at the new company to operate the system which is affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.