Road Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia - Research Paper Example

Road Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia “Accidents”- a term very often said and heard; be it an explosion or aircraft crash, building collapse, fire break, short circuit, vehicle collision, etc. The amount of insecurity that we live with in today’s world has increased tremendously. And we are ourselves responsible for the mounting apprehension about human behavior in society which leads to such “accidents”. Indeed, we must take a notice of the measurably increased use of this term since last many years. Of all these accidents, ‘road traffic accidents’ is an issue which requires attention and should be brought under control by strict legislation and active participation by citizens of a country. Newspapers and magazines are always filled with stories about injuries, deaths and damages because of vehicles colliding on each other. Although we have journalists and analysts who report news to us and warn us to learn to take care while driving, yet our tendencies highly resist improving even a bit. A victim of road accidents isn’t always the one who committed the mistake; rather many times innocent people get injured because of the errors of sometimes drunken, sometimes ignorant and rash and at other times careless drivers. Also, it is not only the people who are at the receiving end of these accidents, but innocent animals and valuable public or private property also suffers heavy damage. Following essay talks in detail about road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia and particularly with reference to its male population. A traffic accident scene is terrible. The condition of people involved in accident and suffered because of it is appalling. Many times we see a truck lying lopsided on a road-side or a car half crushed at the accident site. As a spectator, we feel sympathetic towards people involved in the mishap. We also run for their help. We then read about the news in the newspaper the next day and know that a youth driving car at a high speed ignoring speed limit traffic rules was the reason for accident. We then curse these “today’s young boys” for being ill at following simple instructions and call them boisterous. Such and many other accidents keep happening around us. But, knowing the facts about traffic accidents haven’t persuaded people enough to take a firm action against causing accidents because all our sympathies vanish with the memory of the accident or the news of it as they turn old. Alas! We are the executors and the sufferers in the entire gamut. Statistical data regarding road accidents proves that we as citizens don’t take a firm stand to prevent accidents. A study by World Health Organization (W.H.O.) says that an estimated 1.2million people worldwide are killed in road accidents and more than 50million other people suffer injuries (Martin, 2005). The study brings to light the most important reason for paying attention to solve the road safety problem: by 2020, it is expected that road traffic injury would be third leading contributor to global health and medical expenses (Martin, 2005)! It has been said that Saudi Arabia has the highest number of road accidents in the world (The website for the road traffic industry, 2010. It is also known that an average of 17 people die on Saudi roads every single day, the concerned study also points out that throughout 2008-2009, about 6485 people died of accidents and nearly 36000 people were reported injured because of 485000 accidents (The website for the road traffic industry, 2010). Phew! One is certainly taken by surprise after knowing above facts and figures. As an inhabitant of this planet, it becomes the moral duty of every person to contribute towards road safety. It should also be understood that driving is not a right, it is a privilege granted to us by the government of state where we stay. The privilege stands to be taken away from us if not utilized properly. The Arab states are reported by W.H.O. to have merely 2% of world’s vehicles but they record 6% of the world’s traffic fatalities (Martin, 2005). After having known about world statistics on road accidents and that of Saudi Arabia in particular, let us now move on to understanding the causes of these accidents. These factors include human behavioral errors. Environmental and social determinants also heavily contribute to accidents. Of the many accidents happening in Saudi states, majority of accidents have happened due to drivers jumping red lights and taking illegal U-turns; speeding and sudden stops as well as talking on mobile phones were classified as most dangerous activities (The Media Line Staff, 2010). The male population between 15 to 26 years of age is most susceptible to such accidents. Some more causes, their explanations and preventable measures are as follows: 1. Ignoring traffic rules: Most of the times people are in a hurry and even if they are not, they tend to take driving lightly and manage to easily ignore traffic rules. These rules include overlooking the tenet pertaining to roads prohibited for two way traffic, having seen the red signal(stop indicator) at traffic crossings but ignoring it purposefully, not allowing pedestrians to cross roads safely and calmly, not stopping behind the zebra-crossing, speeding unnecessarily, honking at highest frequency and at prohibited places such as near schools and hospitals, etc. Some roads have a high density traffic which compels the ministry of road transport to implement only one way traffic on such roads. Drivers tend to ignore this rule so as to reach their desired place in least possible time. Vehicles already running on the “one-way” road are caught unawares because of such other meddling vehicles and failure to control speed leads to accidents. Similarly, jumping red signal is the outcome of people running late to reach their desired destinations or mischievous young pool which doesn’t know enough about dangers related to breaking traffic rules. 2. Congestion of traffic: The population of Saudi Arabia is said to be increasing at a very fast rate implying that either public transport or private transport means has to be made available for this increasing number of people. At the same time the economical scenario of the country has made many people afford the luxury of owning a car for a family or even many cars per family (Al-Naami et al. 2010). As the number of vehicles bought increases, proportionately numbers of vehicles brought on roads also increases and this results in heavy congestion of traffic at various road intersections. Times are rapidly changing and once considered a need, owning vehicles has become more of a luxury in last few decades. This has made young people in the age group of 14-25 years to demand own vehicles to their parents. Where 4 people can be accommodated in one car, people are seen driving a car per individual. We are witness to obvious results due to traffic congestion because of such human behavior. One of the ways to avoid congestion on roads is to use as much public transport as is possible so that not every individual needs to use personal vehicle. This will automatically reduce the burden on our roads. Here the transport regulation authority must take care to improve the means of public transport in the country. 3. Over speeding: Youth population in above mentioned age group has “fresh blood”. They are seen frenzied and have a zest to speed up their vehicles on roads at every nook and corner possible. Ham et al. point out that one should not be surprised to see people in Saudi Arabia overtaking other vehicle at as high as 160kmph and speeding even through emergency stop lanes or by seeing drivers speeding in the fog of mountains (2004, p.184). On a congested road, this kind of deliberate speeding leads to accidents and may prove fatal. These young people are very much confident about themselves often regarded as over-confident. They think they can efficiently control their vehicles and that they have the power to manipulate traffic on roads i.e. break any rule and speed in and out of any zone. Yet another kind of speeding trait observed specifically in youth is their passion for “racing”. They are seen competing with each other during late night hours and sometimes even during busy time of the day. This attitude makes them drive their vehicles at the highest permissible speed provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Over speeding eventually lands these guys in hospitals. 4. Negligence: Negligence can be attributed to drivers as well as other non-driving people on road which include hawkers, road-side vendors, old people crossing roads, people walking on roads instead of footpaths, children incapable of understanding regulations related to road, etc. To elaborate further, a driver negligent of other people on road can cause accident by mistake. Such a negligent driving also damages certain poles and road-side erections which come in his way. On the other hand although a driver is driving cautiously, an innocent little kid or an old person can stumble in his way to cause just one more mishap. One cannot ask such people to stop using roads. It’s all about inculcating the value of safety amongst children and accompanying kids by holding their hand so that they don’t fall prey to such mishaps. Also an understanding that kids as young as 11 years old should not be given charge of vehicles by their parents or older friends will go a long way in preventing many accidents. 5. Drinking and driving: This is a very dreadful cause of accidents. It shows our complete disrespect towards obeying any rule. We may think that this problem shouldn’t be difficult to tackle with, as consuming liquor itself is considered illegal in Saudi Arabia (Al-Omran, 2007). But, people pay no heed to this fact and drive on the roads after having drunk heavy doses of liquor even after knowing the fact that drinking can lose brain balance and that it is considered illegal. In order to prevent any more accidents, license of drunken drivers should be immediately confiscated and heavy fines or imprisonment should be announced for people committing double crimes; that of consuming liquor in the first place and then for rash driving and violating traffic rules as well as taking innocent lives. It is not always possible for the traffic police to stop every passing vehicle and check if the person is drunk. People addicted to drinking tend to find such loopholes in the system and disobey the rule. A complete self regulation and implementation of self constraints in youth is important at such times. 6. Use of mobile phones while driving: This has become a major cause of accidents world wide. Use of mobiles has extensively increased in recent years. Its root lies in the fact that mobile phones facilitate people to keep in touch with each other without much effort. One can also contact one’s family or avail emergency services whenever needed just because of mobile phone. However, a coin has two sides and so does every issue. While mobile phones have assured connectivity, talking over phone while driving causes serious mental distraction. It makes drivers lose their concentration and hence their grip on vehicles. When we are supposed to pay attention, is it not stupid to divert our self by attending calls which can be momentarily delayed? Certainly yes! It should be noted that use of mobile phones is banned in many countries including Switzerland, Germany, China, Austria, India, Russia, Japan, Egypt and many more (Cellular-news, 2009). Some countries even ban the use of hands-free devices to talk while driving. With the record of having highest number of road accidents, time has come for Saudi Arabia to check for the implemented strict legislation to ban the use of mobile phones while driving. In fact, it should be possible that ignorant “young-adults” up to the age of 22 years old should not be given mobile phones by their family heads. 7. Improper instruction signs on roads: Sign boards are expected to be placed on roads for convenience of general public. These should convey ‘u-turn’, ‘one way traffic’, ‘entry prohibited’, ‘parking’ or ‘no parking’ zones, boards for pedestrians, ‘speed limit’ etc. Traffic sign boards are either missing at many places, or are fallen down, sometimes pointing towards unintended traffic or are damaged. The sign boards require maintenance and some rules require up-gradation according to changing traffic scenario and rush on roads. The ministry should take into account all these considerations and plan an effective traffic rule display system in the form of sign boards. 8. Lack of the use of helmets and seat belts: Sometimes accidents are unavoidable and occur because of natural forces. But at all times, it is important to save human life in any mishap occurred. For the same purpose, many countries have made it mandatory for people to use seat belts while driving. Some countries have gone a step ahead and compelled front seat passengers along with drivers to use seat belt. The same rule was implemented in Saudi Arabia on 5th December 2009 (Bendak, 2004, p.368). Heavy fines are imposed to people violating this rule. It is seen that notorious young boys, typically those enjoying their college life in the age group of 15 to 22, do not care enough to obey these rules. They are always in a hurry to go anywhere and find it unworthy to waste time tying seat belts around them. They also find it amusing to disobey traffic rules. However, awareness should be instilled in them about the advantages of using seat belts: they reduce the severity of injuries after a car accident by retaining the occupants in their own seat and preventing them from hitting any objects in their vicinity and from being thrown out of the window (Bendak, 2004, p.367). Severe road accidents result in many injuries sometimes damaging our skull. In spite of knowing this, people tend to avoid using helmet. It has become a natural tendency of people to be relaxed about fatalities until some grave mishap occurs with them. But it should be forced upon citizens to use helmet whatever the case may be. 9. Animals coming mid-way: Several animals walking on roads are responsible for collision with vehicles. These include cattle, goats, dogs and camels. Although it may not sound severe but accidents because of such reasons are responsible for loss of life of humans as well as animals at times. Specifically related to Saudi Arabia is the problem of Camel Vehicle Collision (CVC). A report states that more than half a million camels graze freely in Saudi Arabia in search of their food. Accidents because of CVC occur in most rural highways and result in economic loss due to human injuries, vehicle damage and loss of wildlife (Al-Ghamadi, AlGadhi, 2004). Young boys usually in an enthusiastic state of mind tend to ignore the speed limit sign boards pertaining to camel grazing zone and collide with camels. 10. Poor construction of roads and tire bursts: Road transport is the most widely used mode of transport in any country. Hence a well developed infrastructure is very necessary to facilitate smooth transport. Roads should be free of open potholes which are a definite overlook for a speedy driver. Crashes due to poor construction of roads where underground pipelines remain exposed cause damage to public property as well. However, all such places should be brought to the notice of road transport department which is expected to take care of citizens by putting up warning signs few meters away from the accident prone location and by repairing the roads at the earliest. Different types roads can be constructed which are environmentally sustainable for a given place. These can be of cement type, tar type or stone granules or a mixture of different materials. Proper roads ensure durability of vehicle tire. A recent study report states that although tire bursting is one of the reasons for accidents, it is not very grave because approximately 90% of the drivers check their vehicle tires for pressure once a month (Al-Naami et al. 2010). 11. Migrated population: This is one of the important and quite ignored causes of road accidents. The people migrated to this country come from a background which has different cultural upbringing. They are trained to follow traffic rules of their own country. Although they have a license, they are not prepared to drive on roads different than their own and throbbed by people who have a varied attitude than theirs. A law should come into effect which enforces non-native citizens of a country to undergo certain training program which guides them about driving rules and regulations in the migrated country. 12. Climatic variation: “Smog” which is a combination of smoke + fog is a dangerous atmospheric obstacle causing accidents on highways all over the world. Usually in winter season highways have heavy fog formation and nearby vehicles are not clearly visible. This causes collisions. As the number of vehicles increase, pollutants emitted by them increase at an alarming rate. Accidents because of change in climate happen because of the dangerous carbon monoxide emissions released by vehicle exhaust. A study in Saudi Arabia says that smoking combined with carbon monoxide emissions could disturb a driver’s sense of speed and distance thus making him vulnerable to causing accidents (Koushki, Bustan, 2006, p.736). 13. Gender and Religious beliefs: Women are supposed to wear a veil hiding their face in Saudi Arabia. This makes it difficult to drive because visual clarity is compromised. Concerns over public safety have banned women drivers to wear a veil while driving (Martin 2005) while all this also interferes in their religious system. A conflict in this issue indirectly bans women from driving vehicles. 14. Youth imitate elders: One thing can be said definitely about a country where large number of accidents keep happening, that elders who are supposed to set an example of responsible individuals are careless enough to ignore these basic principles. If elders do not follow certain rule, they cannot be expected to teach their kids about it. And this becomes a vicious circle because every next generation moves away from being responsible individuals. There should be a policy of taking punitive action against “all people” under any age group who breach traffic rules so that at least at some point of time we would have a generation who would accept, respect and obey laws. 15. Faulty machine parts: Servicing vehicles is very important. This can be explained with the analogy of our body. We eat daily, sleep daily and do exercises to keep our body energized for day’s tasks. Same applies with vehicles. We fill in fuel and keep driving them without worrying about their cleaning, lubrication and maintenance requirements. Often brakes become faulty, indicators damage, vehicle’s body parts wear out and we don’t pay attention until something serious happens. Faulty brakes are responsible for many accidents especially on highways. Sometimes it is the educated youth who ignore paying attention to the basic requirements of their vehicles. An awareness campaign can be sought to remove this problem. Accidents aren’t solely responsible for loss of life. The acute lack of various first aid facilities in several economically backward regions makes people lose their lives. Sometimes deaths occur on the spot of the accident which is because of fatal injuries to person, and sometimes critically injured people do not get proper medical attention to recover from the suffered damage. People also succumb to permanent disabilities. In order to prevent “road traffic accidents” and sufferings due to it, a feeling of fraternity should be nurtured amongst everyone. The way we take care of our family members from getting hurt because of anything, the same way we must learn to take care of every person on this earth and be sensitive towards animals as well. This feeling should be nurtured in every home and implemented with conscious effort. On a global scale efforts are being made to resolve the problems of road traffic accidents. Just in another effort to prevent accidents and make citizens conscious about dangers involved in improper driving, the United Nations observed “Global Road Safety Week” from 23-29 April 2007, where it discussed road safety issues with youth from many countries (United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, 2007). The same needs to be done locally in Saudi Arabia. Awareness campaigns should be held in all cities and maximum youth participation should be ensured. In fact the youth should be compelled to participate in such campaigns and conferences. Rallies could also be staged on roads amidst the traffic about driving slowly and abiding by all norms. The traffic rule violations which are penalized in Saudi Arabia include amongst many the following violations: driving vehicles without license, obtaining driving permit illegally, disregarding VIP vehicles and emergency vehicles, using non-standard registration plates, absence of brake lights on vehicles, ignoring priority rules in crossroads, bridges and railway crossings, getting on/off moving vehicle absence of speedometers, wipers or mirrors, loss or absence of insurance policy and vehicle registration documents, etc (Quesada, 2007). All this implies that many regulations are already drawn but their effective implementation is now necessary. Main reason for accidents so far has been stated by a report as non compliance with traffic control devices such as traffic signals and stop signals (Al-Ghamdi 2003). A careful collaboration between different ministries in a country can help alleviate the accidents on road. This would involve dynamic participation of educational institutes, health care ministry, road transport department, traffic police, and voluntary organizations who would come forward to take initiative with regard to this problem. Voluntary help coming from people can be the best way to curb problems as it would be the easiest rapid means of communication because of involvement of common man in the activity. Certain other solutions could include awarding youth for driving carefully and responsibly. Where lack of education is a serious barrier, educational workshops could help enhance awareness amongst everyone. An important move should come from society and it includes complete withdrawal of support to people violating rules. It is a common fashion to say ‘rules are meant to be broken’ but society should not enhance such bad instincts of younger generation. The ideal age for driving should be raised from current permissible age to either 20 or 21 years so that by the time people grow into adults they are well aware of hazards involved in improper driving and also that of keeping a wrong attitude. The above discussion sheds light on the ways social, economic, cultural, educational and governmental parameters affect road safety situation in a country (Bener et al., p.604). It is very difficult to arrive at the correct estimation of economic loss involved in accident costs and it is equally impossible to come up with an accurate number of lives lost in road accidents (Bener et al., p.604). But the detailed study of causes and possible means to reduce casualties empowers us to keep our eyes “wide open” and be a part on individual basis to hold back the rising rate of accidents in Saudi Arabia. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s parents. We need to inculcate in them basic moral values and enforce righteous behavior to pass on to coming generations. Before the essay concludes, let us appreciate the world health day activities as planned and executed by some countries in 2004 which included distribution of audio visual material focusing on road safety, planning for printing postage stamps bearing world health day slogan, advertisements and awareness through the use of powerful media such as television, radio, large hoardings on main roads, and speeches by influential personalities, marching of parade, etc. (World Health Organization, 2004). Though we have to go a long way in having a peaceful flow of traffic on roads, yet it won’t be wrong to say that we have begun well by becoming aware of its importance; after all, as rightly said “well begun is half done”! References Al-Ghamadi Ali and AlGadhi Saad. ‘‘Warning signs as countermeasures to camel-vehicle collisions in Saudi Arabia’’, 2004. http://www.academia-research.com/files/instr/423255_camels.pdf. p.749. (Accessed March 26, 2010). 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