Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — There are more than 2.2 million cars older than 20 years currently plying on the streets of the Kingdom, local daily Al-Madinah reported quoting a report by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

The report said the sector of land transport rapidly progressed in 2015 and there were more than 12 million cars in the Kingdom by the year 2014, which accounted for about 25 percent of fuel consumption in the country.

The ministry expected the number of cars to reach more than 26 million by 2030 and said they would increase the fuel consumption to more the a million barrels a day.

It said air pollution resulting from vehicles was especially concentrated on Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Makkah, especially during pilgrimage seasons.

According to the ministry, the use of special devices could reduce smoke emissions from automobiles by 70 to 90 percent.

It said the regular maintenance of cars and their periodical examinations would also help reduce the current rates of air pollution.