BMG Foundation Chairman Basil Al-Ghalayini (L) and Ali Husein Alireza, CEO of Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd, sign the cooperation agreement to promote the culture of safe driving in the Kingdom. — Courtesy photo Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — A leading automotive distributor in Saudi Arabia and a Saudi-based non-governmental organization have agreed to cooperate in raising the culture of responsible driving in the Kingdom by joining hands to give the “Safe Driving, Life Saving” campaign a new drive. Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd. (HHA), distributors for the top four car manufacturers worldwide, will support BMG Foundation in the campaign that seeks to reduce the alarming incidence of road accidents and resulting loss of life. The organization will also help the BMG engage with the youth in the country by supporting a contest that will invite high school and university students to submit innovative ideas on safe driving. According to studies conducted by the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia, over 485,000 accidents have led to more than 6,000 deaths during the last two decades. An average of 20 people die every day due to road accidents in Saudi Arabia, which is also the primary cause of death among males aged 16-36 years in the country. The annual financial loss due to traffic accidents is pegged at approximately SR21 billion. Ali Husein Alireza, CEO of Haji Husein Alireza & Co., and Basil Al-Ghalayini, Chairman, BMG Foundation, signed the agreement at the foundation's headquarters in Jeddah. Alireza said: “As one the largest car and truck distributors, we believe it is our responsibility to nurture a culture of safe driving in the community. Supporting the BMG Foundation in its yearly initiative will help us come closer to achieving our vision of ‘road safety for all' across the nation. “Our company enjoys high credibility as distributors for the top four car manufacturers worldwide. Adding Geely to our lineup, we are confident that the brand's portfolio of models equipped with advanced safety features will save more lives on the roads.” Al-Ghalayini said: “We are delighted to have Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd. on board as main sponsors for our campaign ‘Safe Driving, Life Saving'. As one of the first automobile dealers in the Arabian Peninsula, the organization's dedication toward promoting safe driving is exemplary.” He added: “Building on the success of our campaign for 2012 — ‘Our Water, Our Life', and the overwhelming interest we received from the youth in conceptualizing creative campaigns, we are once again set to run a contest for our campaign this year that focuses on safe driving. “With road accidents being the single major cause of death among the youth in Saudi Arabia, we strongly believe it is essential to engage the next generation in addressing the situation and instilling a culture of road safety across the nation.”
