By Mohammad Saud
RIYADH — The Traffic Department has said that it will not be more lenient with senior citizens who commit traffic violations. Traffic Department spokesman Col. Tariq Al-Rubaiyan said the law does not state that citizens over 60 shall be treated differently when it comes to traffic violations.
“The law does not have age groups with different penalties. Violators are all equal in the eyes of the law and the traffic police officer is required to implement the law. It is up to the officer to assess the situation and help the senior citizen if he needs help,” said Al-Rubaiyan.
National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) General-Secretary Khalid Al-Fakhry said all citizens are subject to the same laws but it is up to the discretion of the traffic officer to take heed of a violator’s health and other circumstances.
“It is better for everyone to simply adhere to the law without looking for excuses to receive a more lenient punishment. All citizens are subject to respect the law and all drivers are expected to remain professional and courteous when dealing with the authorities,” said Al-Fakhry.
He added breaking traffic laws is a violation of other people’s rights to safety.
“Excusing a group of people due to their age will be unjust to all the others who do adhere to the law. We must not forget that violators are wrong to break the law. If we excuse senior citizens from being penalized it sends a message that anyone can violate the law after a certain age,” said Al-Fakhry.
He added the most common traffic violation committed by senior citizens is running a red light, driving in the opposite direction of the road and illegal parking.
“The violations that might lead to detention are running a red light and being involved in a road accident. Such violations can endanger other people’s lives or cause significant financial loss,” said Al-Fakhry.
SR21 billion a year wasted over accidents
Meanwhile, World Bank expert Said Badahdah stated that the Kingdom wastes about SR21 billion a year in accidents. In his report issued December 13, 2015, Badahdah said, “Although Saudi Arabia has safe road networks, yet $27 billion annually are spent on road accidents. Many violations by drivers are high-speed and recklessness within urban areas.”
Another report issued in 2013 stated that injuries caused by road accidents in the age groups (5-14) and (15-29) are the largest social and economic burden on Saudi Arabia.
The website of the Auto Trend Magazine in the US played a video clip on the fourth of August 2011 of a group of young Saudis in the city of Hail driving a jeep on two wheels only at the same time replacing the wheels on the other two along the road.
Many Americans commented in shock saying that this is extremely dangerous and reckless behavior.
Professor of traffic engineering and transport at King Saud University Dr. Ali Bin Saeed Al-Ghamdi said that the amendments approved by the Council of Ministers to the traffic system are to save lives and property from damage, and out of that came the intervention of the Council's harsher fines.
He said the decision was made to reduce traffic accidents, pointing out that road accidents are a serious problem in the Kingdom.
