By Fahd Bin Jleid
THE Ministry of Transport's enthusiasm and sympathy with the Saudization of taxis via apps and smart phones, and its warning of SR500 fines for violations is encouraging, and I hope that it does not remain just press material because of perceived difficulty in detecting non-Saudi violators.
The fact is that there are more foreign residents working making good profits with their vehicles. The entire transport sector is hijacked by these drivers, in full view of citizens and officials, and no one lifts a finger.
Let's take the unsafe, random school transport buses as an example. Some operate these run-down buses without a license, and others lack the original ownership, carrying dozens of male and female students in all stages of public education, uncensored with no maintenance, no cleanliness and not complying with the instructions of traffic.
They are a source of income that generates profits for them, as they benefited from a loophole in school transport system, or high costs. These buses are not only working early in the morning to collect students from their homes, but also the same period in the afternoon to return them to their homes, making detection difficult on the streets, because they are parked throughout the day. So I wonder why won't the Ministry of Transport make inspections at schools in the morning, to eliminate this disturbing phenomenon which threatens the safety of our children?
School boards or universities refuse to take responsibility for this type of transportation, and parents cannot find a suitable alternative. They are forced to accept this situation. The Ministry of Transport and traffic department ignore the situation as if they were embarrassed to stop a bus that has dozens of male and female students on board. I pray that we move quickly toward the gates of schools and universities to adjust the process of random transportation before a disaster happens.
