Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The growing menace of motorcyclists running unrestrained with full disregard for traffic laws has begun to draw the attention of the authorities. The youths not only put their lives at risk but also that of innocent bystanders or motorists with their devilish antics. Some of these bike riders shoulder the pavements with dirt using it as a ramp for them to cross to the other side to escape from police and traffic checkpoints. Others mask their faces except for the eyes. Some bikes have their plates removed to avoid detection. The bikers surround vehicles and create stunts riding on the rear wheel. Residents have demanded that the streets be cleared from these youths and cleaned of such practices through the collective efforts of the police and other pertinent bodies. They said violators should not be allowed to roam the streets day and night carrying out their nefarious activities. Abdulhadi Al-Qarni said the majority of motorbike riders do not care to comply with the basic safety measures. Furthermore, their motorbikes do not carry number plates. “They raise the front wheel of the motorcycle and drive on the rear wheel in front of other vehicles. This poses danger for all road users and causes terror for children and women. Many traffic accidents take place because of such practices.” Abdulrahman Al-Jihani called for a collective effort from all the security bodies without exception to counter the phenomenon. He said, “The actions of these youths indicate that they are not in a normal state, but are probably intoxicated due to the effect of drugs. They do not realize the danger they are putting their lives in. There should be a limit to this. They should not be allowed to put other people's lives in jeopardy.” Yusuf Saleh demanded that licenses should not be renewed for shops selling motorbikes. It should be investigated who is selling such motorbikes to violators who use them for carrying out suspicious acts and crimes. However, he said there are youths who abide by the regulations and directives. They use them as a sport and recreation and not for anything else. He added that special places should be allocated for them to use their motorbikes as a sport. Abdulaziz Saud expressed astonishment at the stunts some bike riding youths carry out, like surrounding vehicles and lifting the front wheels off the ground. They do this especially when there are women inside. Jeddah police spokesman First Lt. Nawaf Nasser Al-Bouq said policemen and undercover agents, including those from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), are monitoring motorbike riders round the clock. They also keep their movements and places they frequent under surveillance. They are followed from the places where they start until they reach their residences. He said the clampdown is continuing and will not stop. Al-Bouq added that a big number of such motorbike riders have been arrested. Some of these motorbikes violate the traffic regulations, as they do not carry number plates and the riders do not hold licenses. Furthermore, they disturb others. Therefore, the motorbikes are confiscated and the owners apprehended. Al-Bouq said that among those arrested were ex-criminals as well as petty thieves and purse-snatchers. The majority of these are violators of the residency (iqama) and labor regulations. They have been followed and arrested by the police. “It is no longer a secret that motorbikes are used to commit crimes. Several such criminal cases have been registered,” he said. Al-Bouq praised motorbike riders who hold proper licenses and vehicle registrations. They follow and respect the traffic regulations and directives. He added, “There are excellent examples of motorbike riders.” Director of Traffic Department in Jeddah Maj. Gen. Muhammad Hassan Al-Qahtani said his department has confiscated 420 motorbikes during the past three months. The seized motorbikes are sold as scrap in a public auction. The motorbikes are cut, compressed and sold as scrap so as to ensure they do not return to the streets. Al-Qahtani said the Traffic Department's uniformed and undercover patrols routinely follow motorbike riders. Also, there are special patrols allocated for following motorbikes and their riders and arresting them by setting traps, as they are violators of the traffic regulations.
