With summer vacation just a week away and traffic problems in the city expected to increase with the annual influx of summer visitors, the Jeddah Traffic Department on Sunday launched “My Safety”, a special traffic plan for the summer season. The new traffic plan takes into account the expected increase in the number of visitors to the city this summer. Last year, a record 3.4 million people visited Jeddah and there were complaints of traffic jams across the city. The traffic department has devised two plans to ensure the easy flow of traffic and the safety and security of citizens. The first plan was successfully implemented at the start of the annual school examinations and the new plan which was launched Sunday is expected to considerably ease traffic along the main roads and thoroughfares, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Director of Jeddah traffic police, said. “Public safety and security are the most important concerns of our summer traffic plan. We will ensure that traffic violations are down to the minimum. We will also focus on the safety of vehicles, as tires invariably burst in the heat.” The other aim of launching this plan, he said, is to introduce and highlight the Saher traffic program and its importance to the public so they can understand it better and the movement of traffic can improve. “Saher will contribute to the management of traffic, as digital cameras will record pictures of vehicles, erring drivers and registration numbers,” he added. According to information from the General Traffic Department, the Saher system requires all citizens and residents to update their data (phone, P.O. Box and address) at any Ministry of Interior sector (Traffic, Civil Affairs, Passports) so that they can be informed of any traffic violation registered against them and pay the minimal fine within 30 days. The fine will double once the 30-day period is over. Brig. Gen. Al-Qahtani also said that traffic officers will be stationed at almost all busy intersections to ensure the safety and security of motorists and the general public. “I hope all people – visitors, residents and citizens – will understand their responsibility toward themselves and toward the safety and security of others and that they will cooperate with us. We are also thankful to the media for supporting us in our campaigns,” Brig. Gen. Al
