Over six million vehicles in the Kingdom are not inspected mechanically on a regular basis, raising concerns over safety on the nation's roads. This is according to Major General Sulaiman Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Ajlan, the Director General of Traffic Administration. He said over eight million vehicles are registered with the traffic authorities across the Kingdom. Of this number, almost 2 million are not checked on a regular basis. He said the authorities have gradually introduced an electronic technical inspection management system, known as the “Tim Service” in Riyadh, Eastern Province, Jeddah and Qassim. It will soon be spread across the country. Al-Ajlan made the comments while inaugurating the “Tim Service” at the Gitex Exhibition in Riyadh on Monday. He pointed out that Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, issued orders a while ago for the inspection system to be restructured. Major General Al-Ajlan said a study has been conducted and submitted to the Shoura Council for the possible introduction of legislation. He added that Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, also ordered that traffic offices are set up in conjunction with vehicle testing centers. He said the “Tim Service” is provided by car dealers so that they can directly issue car plates and Istimara for newly sold cars without applying to the traffic police. He added that the current centers where cars are impounded will be replaced with new advanced centers. He said the bids for the construction of these new centers have already been offered on tender. He said the new centers will be built on land owned by the Traffic Administration, leased from the mayoralties or on land belonging to private companies. With the launch of the “Tim Service” the Traffic Administration has introduced more than 400 electronic services. This is part of attempts to develop an e-government. A report on this is sent to the King Abdullah every six months.
