Traffic department reviews violations

JEDDAH: A Shoura Council official said that the traffic department is currently reviewing Saher traffic monitoring system’s recorded violations after the council discussed the large amounts of traffic violations in the previous session. Vice Chairman of the council’s security affairs committee Gen. Abdullah Al-Sa’adoun said the Council of Ministers and the Shoura Council are always briefed on financial fines, which are also discussed and can be reviewed.
On expanding the Saher system to cover the entire Kingdom, the official said the members did not discuss this. “We constantly look for and discuss amendments. The expansion is now on the table as a proposal.”
If it is expanded, it will contribute in reducing unemployment and eliminating a large percentage of accidents. “Everybody wins with a strict application of the system. Those who keep violating and getting fines will comply eventually,” he said, adding that the proposal to expand the system is a “good one” that should be presented to the Traffic Department or Interior Ministry.
Al-Sa’adoun said he valued the Saher system. “It contributes to saving lives and keeping order and security. Similar systems are implemented in all of the world’s developed countries.” He continued: “Fatal speeding and red-light running, wrong parking and ignoring pedestrians’ rights are all violations that one should not be getting away with without punishment.”
On acts of vandalism that took place against the system’s cars and cameras, he said these acts were handled by executive authorities like the Traffic Department and the Ministry of Interior.
No matter how just the system is, if it is not monitored and if there is no punishment for those who vandalize it then it wont last, he said.