Digital timers to be reinstalled in Jeddah traffic lights soon

The Jeddah Traffic Directorate will soon reinstall digital counters which were removed from traffic signals in the city following a technical glitch some time ago.
Revealing this, official spokesman for the traffic directorate Maj. Gen. Zaid Al-Hamzi told Arab News that the directorate was fixing the faulty counters and they would be reinstalled as soon as they are ready.
Reacting to and overwhelming complaints from road-users against the removal of the digital counters, he said most motorists claim that the absence of these digital counters from traffic lights wills double the numbers of traffic accidents on major roads and intersections.
“Motorists should pay attention to traffic lights and drive slow as they approach them. They shouldn’t rely on digital counters because they might focus on the counter and forget the car in front of them,” he pointed out.
A large number of car owners, however, demanded immediate reinstallation of the digital counters in Jeddah traffic lights especially on main roads which face heavy congestion at all hours and particularly during peak hours.
Speaking to Arab News, they complained against the removal of digital counters that had been installed on most traffic signals. The counter helped drivers not to cross traffic lights and cause needless traffic accidents.
These counters were removed after Jeddah traffic installed Saher cameras in several main roads, they alleged.
Hanash Al-Qarni was surprised by the removal of these counters, and alleged that this was Jeddah traffic’s way of catching traffic violators in a clever and secret manner.
He said the removal of digital counters had caused many accidents at traffic lights because motorists were in a hurry to catch the signal before it turned red since they don’t want to commit a violation.
As soon as the lights turn amber, drivers stop suddenly leading to the possibility of the car in the back ramming into his car, he said.