JEDDAH — Running red lights will be allowed in emergency cases and there will not be any Saher penalties issued for this, according to a senior traffic official. Brig. Gen. Waslallah Al-Harbi, director of traffic in Jeddah, said an expert committee would examine cases involving motorists running red lights. “It is the right of road users to run a red light in order to facilitate the movement of ambulances or Civil Defense vehicles as part of measures to improve the handling of emergency situations. In such cases, tickets by the Saher automated traffic control and management system will be reviewed and revoked.” Al-Harbi said those who violate traffic regulations in emergency cases such as taking patients in serious conditions or women with labor pain to hospital will not be fined or taken into custody, Al-Hayat newspaper reported. “It is a similar case with ambulances of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority or the Civil Defense's rescue or fire safety missions. “The reason for the traffic violation will be very clear from the images provided by Saher.” He said the specialized committee, represented by the Saher Penalty Commission, will take an appropriate decision on the complaints filed by any citizen or foreigner with regard to the violation registered against them. Al-Harbi's comments came amid complaints by several motorists that they had to pay fines when they ran red lights to facilitate the movement of ambulances and other vehicles handling emergency cases.
