The number of drivers who commit one or more traffic violations in a month stood at 57.6 percent in the Kingdom, according to a study carried out by King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue. The study showed that 69 percent of drivers use mobile phone while driving, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The study found that 11.9 percent of drivers run red light while 33 percent are not keen on wearing seat belts or rarely wear them. According to the study, the percentage of drivers who crossed the speed limits stood at 40.3. About 92.7 percent of those who took part in the survey wanted to strictly enforce the traffic rules to rein in reckless drivers who cause most of the accidents. Around 91.2 percent called for expanding the public transport system to ease traffic jams on major roads. The study revealed that Saudi Arabia ranked third in the number of traffic accidents in the Middle East region. About 92.6 percent of participants in the survey were of the view that using mobile phone while driving was a major cause of accidents while 90.7 percent opined that driving without a license is another cause. Some 87.8 percent of participants attributed accidents to disregard for traffic rules while 82.7 percent see potholes, digging and road works as a leading cause. A total of 821 people from a cross section of all age groups beginning from 15 years from all regions of the Kingdom took part in the survey.
