BAHA — Uqbat Baha, located 2,000 meters above sea level, is a marvelous hill resort that attracts a large number of Saudi and foreign tourists every year. At the same time, the city has witnessed several road accidents as a result of the poor road system and increasing traffic violations. Saeed Hilal still remembers the horrific accident that killed his brother and two nephews and injured his sister-in-law and another child as they were going to attend a family event. "The accident took place in front of me as we were going together with our families from Surat to Mikhwat to attend a family function," Hilal told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. "A car came from the opposite direction and hit my brother's vehicle head on," he pointed out. Hilal said he has not yet recovered from the shock of the deadly accident, which took place about seven years ago. He blamed the damaged road and a lack of safety systems for the accident. "It pains me that a lot of accidents take place in Uqbat Baha every day, resulting in the death of several innocent people. It's unfortunate that the tragedy does not move the Transport Ministry to improve the road system and enhance safety measures," he pointed out. The problem continues without any solution. Abdul Majeed Al-Ghamdi witnessed a tragic accident in the area about five months ago. "It occurred due to wrong overtaking," he added. Al-Ghamdi's wife died in that accident while he sustained injuries. "The tragedies are continuing from the top of Uqbat to Mikhwat due to a lack of safety measures and absence of traffic patrols," he explained. Al-Ghamdi said traffic patrols appear after accidents and they do not take any action to prevent accidents. "We need intensive presence of traffic patrol from Uqbat Baha to Surat and installation of traffic safety signs. The present road signs were established about 25 years ago. We need to change those signs to guide drivers and other road users and avoid accidents." Nasser Al-Ghamdi criticized authorities for not implementing the recommendations of a committee comprising representatives from the Baha Governorate, the Transport Ministry, Civil Defense and Traffic Department to reduce accidents on the road. "The committee did not take any action to renovate Tunnel No. 11 on the road, which has witnessed a large number of accidents in the past," he said, adding that the road has not witnessed any maintenance in the last 30 years. Abdul Aziz Mohammed expressed his astonishment at authorities allowing all types of vehicles, including large trucks, to use the road without any restrictions. "We see all types of vehicles using the road all the times without any coordination," he said. Mohammed said he had witnessed two accidents at Tunnel No. 16 and 17, which injured two people who were taken to King Fahd Hospital in Baha. He emphasized the need to carry out proper maintenance of roads and installation of traffic signs. "The Traffic Department has to appoint officers in plainclothes to book violators of traffic rules. Motorists should be extra cautious while driving on the road, which has several twists and turns."
