The Traffic Police Department is planning to force companies operating the Saher system to Saudize staff operating mobile speed radars. A Traffic official said the move was expected to be announced before the end of the year. “We want to introduce the measure for security reasons, as well as help provide job opportunities for Saudis,” the official said. He added that the department was studying innovative ways to tackle congestion resulting from accidents and broken-down vehicles on main thoroughfares. “One option being considered is setting up winch-cranes on streets that can remove the vehicle safely away from the road,” he said, citing the main cities of Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah and Madina as particular problem areas. “The issue is being studied, and we hope to reach a conclusion on it soon,” he said. The head of the Traffic Department in Riyadh, meanwhile, has described the Saher scheme as a “rotund success” in reducing the number of motor accidents in the capital. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbil said that over the last four months a 21 percent fall has been registered in accidents, with a 38 percent drop in the number of deaths and a nine percent drop in injuries compared to the same period last year. “The introduction of the system has had a positive effect on driving behavior, improved traffic control and helped curb infractions such as jumping lights, speeding and dangerous overtaking,” Al-Muqbil said. The traffic chief added that Saher had enabled officers to more easily identify vehicles and stolen registration plates through the database at the National Information Center at the Ministry of Interior.
