12/05/2009
At a recent meeting held at Asharqia Chamber, the Land Transportation Committee called for a return to the previous system for collecting traffic violation fines. The previous system required the payment of all traffic fines before iqama and drivers license renewals, and before exit/re-entry visas could be obtained.
A new automatic system launched by the General Traffic Authority – known as “Saher” – will be put into effect in a number of cities upon the completion of a six-month campaign to make motorists aware of the workings of the system. Saher will use a network of digital cameras linked up to the National Information Center (NIC) which will provide personal information on the motorist in question and then issue violations related to speeding and ignoring traffic lights. Cameras will capture the vehicle’s registration plate and send an image to the Traffic Violations Center to check the veracity of the infraction.
When it has been decided that a violation has indeed occurred, the NIC will be asked for the vehicle owner’s personal details and a traffic violation form will be issued to his address as recorded on the information base. Motorists can make inquiries concerning any violations at 012928888.
Fixed sensory cameras, detecting any jumping of lights, will be located at traffic lights on main and side roads, capturing images of the motorist and his vehicle’s front and rear. Mobile cameras will cover other arteries. The cameras, which are equipped with flashes and will function at all hours, are capable of capturing detailed images of vehicles traveling at high speed.
The Saher system is part of moves to clamp down on the nine million traffic infractions registered per year with traffic police, resulting in death, injury, and material losses of approximately SR13 billion.
Also discussed at the meeting, chaired by Abdur-Rahman Al-'Utayshaan, was the continuing problem of the flow of trucks over the King Fahad bridge. A return to a previous system to solve this problem was again suggested by the Committee. Previously, a certain number of trucks were allowed to enter the bridge every day through cooperation between transporters, manufacturers, and the Land Transportation Committee. The Committee agreed that they are prepared to help with this problem.
