MAKKAH — Motorists are not willing to be rewarded with traffic tickets by Saher cameras if they cross the red light at times of emergencies.
A number of them said they were not ready to give way to speeding ambulances and Civil Defense cars when they are stopping at the red lights for fear that they would be spotted by the Saher cameras.
The motorists asked for construction of special lanes and service roads for emergency vehicles so that they could reach their destinations quickly and at the same time save them from getting traffic violation tickets.
Turki Al-Amri, a Saudi driver, recalled that he was stopping at a traffic signal when a speeding ambulance kept blowing its siren for him to move.
“I did not leave my place to give way for the ambulance to pass because I was afraid I might get a traffic violation ticket. I felt embarrassed and ashamed but I was not willing to budge because I did not want to pay the SR500 fine for jumping the red light,” he said.
Salem Al-Harbe, another Saudi, said his friend almost lost his wife because the ambulance transporting her was not allowed to pass by cars stopping at a traffic signal.
“The Saher cameras are planted everywhere. The drivers are not ready to be fined for a noble gesture like running the red light to give way to an ambulance,” he said.
Harbe wished there were service roads and special passages for the ambulance and Civil Defense cars so that they would be able to save lives.
He asked for more flexibility with regard to traffic rules in similar situations.
Hassan Ali, a Sudanese motorist, said Saher cameras recorded a violation against him when he crossed the red light to give way to an ambulance.
He said the traffic police would not listen to his justifications and asked him to pay the fine, otherwise it would be doubled for delaying the payment.
An official source at Makkah Municipality said they fully understand the concerns and would favorably consider the suggestions of motorists by constructing special lanes for emergency vehicles.
He, however, said the current roads are not spacious enough to accommodate the large number of cars, let alone creating special paths for the ambulances.
