Responding to a column I wrote a couple of months ago on the worsening condition of our roads, a friend accused me of not confronting the issue honestly and of placing the major blame on the driving public without addressing the failures of the authorities. I then had to make a quick mental review of what I had written as I was confident that I had covered the subject from all angles. Sure enough, I did fault the authorities for testing and licensing. In my own words I had said, "Do they have the right programs, tests and examinations to ensure that all motorists fully comprehend road rules before licenses are granted?
Are the instructions clear and applicable to our conditions? Are testing centers manned by qualified and dedicated instructors and examiners, or staffed by individuals who would rather be employed somewhere else?" And it didn't stop at that. I questioned whether the onus of responsible driving should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the motorist if he was licensed to drive while still being unqualified. I had also made a case of the invisible traffic patrol officers. During my travels on the roads here, I have come across traffic cops sitting idly in their patrol cars on several occasions while motorists were breaking traffic laws in full view. Rarely have I seen a patrol car flag down an offender unless the culprit was caught in broad daylight while speeding at more than twice the speed limit. Indeed, it seems with the advent of the Saher camera speed monitoring system, the role of the traffic patrol officer has seemingly evaporated into thin air. And if one is spotted, the squad car is simply content to park alongside a major thoroughfare with the lights flashing as a warning and a deterrent, rather than patrolling and apprehending traffic violators who break every rule once this police car is out of sight. My friend was not easily convinced by my arguments. He blamed the authorities for a number of things. “Have you ever seen a flashing red light in the middle of a busy highway anywhere in the world?” he demanded. “What kind of idiocy is that? And look at some of the road signs. They only serve to confuse motorists. New roads and streets are put up but the signs remain unchanged for months and years after the fact. Who is responsible for such gross negligence - the public?” He wasn't about to give up. “Face it, we do not have traffic law enforcement. We have many persons on the road who have never sat behind the wheel of a car, indeed some who have never stepped into a car and are hired as family drivers. We put our children's lives in their hands not to mention our own. Is it my will or the dictates of the authorities that my wife cannot drive my children to school herself? It terrifies me being on the road, as it is the most dangerous place to be in Saudi Arabia. Look at the traffic deaths daily and tell me that it is always the people's fault?” I had to admit that he had a point. It is certainly not always the people's fault. The authorities cannot walk away from the blame of our deteriorating road etiquette.If I have to point fingers, I would begin with the Ministry of Education for not introducing drivers' education in schools and making it a mandatory pass subject. The licensing procedures should come up for review periodically to ensure that they are serving our needs. Only the qualified and the capable should be allowed behind the wheel. It is ironic that boys who are only 10 and 11 years old are observed driving vehicles on public roads, while qualified and licensed females are seen seated in the backseat and not able to take themselves to their destination. But it is not all about the authorities. There are lawbreakers aplenty. The lack of discipline on our roads is a reflection of something more significant. When one feels it is OK to break the law and get away with it, who knows what such a mindset will lead to?
— The author can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @talmaeena
