wrongful wrongful oovertaking vertaking iis deadly”s deadly” · · 2008-05-18letters send to...
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Issue No. 17 March 2008
“Wrongful overtaking is deadly”“Wrongful overtaking is deadly”
The 24th GCC Traffic WeekThe 24th GCC Traffic Week
“Wrongful “Wrongful overtaking overtaking is deadly”is deadly”
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 3
Wrongful overtaking
Colonel Dr.Abdullah Mohammad Al-Traiji
E-mail: [email protected]
Traffic authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) celebrate this
month the 24th GCC Traffic Week under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking …
a killer.”
This important annual traffic event, which takes place in all GCC member
states, is an opportunity for exchanging experiences and views, and to conduct
visits in order to raise traffic awareness and place suitable solutions and
alternatives to traffic problems that all countries of the region are suffering
from.
Traffic-related activities are held for the public during this time, including
exhibitions, seminars, debates, and workshops, all of which shed light on the
importance of abiding by good traffic conduct in order to make roads safe.
The slogan was chosen this year to indicate the grave danger that comes
with overtaking other cars wrongfully, and the law regulates this process in a
way that guarantees safety on the road. Improper overtaking of other cars can
actually be deadly, especially on highways or on two-way roads, and this is
indicated by statistics and studies.
On this occasion, we would like to welcome all GCC delegations participating
in our celebrations of this week and wish them a pleasant stay in Kuwait.
We also hope that the message of this traffic week is conveyed to road users
and that they will abide by proper driving conduct. We would also like to
reaffirm the importance of year-round traffic awareness campaigns, because
we are all required to maintain the secure roads for ourselves and others at all
times by observing laws and regulations.
Issue No.17 - March 20084
Al-Mururiya (Traffic)
Monthly traffic awareness, cultural,
social, comprehensive magazine
Issue No. 17 (March 2008)
Issued by
Higher Traffic Council
Editor in chief
Colonel Dr. Abdullah M. Al-Traiji
Deputy Editor in chief
Dr. Abdullah I. Al-Turaif
Managing Editor
Colonel Rabee’a M. Al-Mutairi
Executive Editor
Adel Bader Botaiban
English Translation & Editing
Eman Mohammad Al-Awadhi
Published articles reflect the
opinions of their writers
and do not necessarily
represent the views of the magazine
Contents In this Issue
“Wrongful overtaking is deadly”
The 24th GCC Traffic Week
Traffic File
Year after year, and a the same time, member states of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) mark the unified traffic week, which
is being held this year under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking is
deadly.” During the event, traffic delegations exchange visits to gain
experience, share information, and stay updated on traffic issues. Al-
Mururiya covered the event, and here are some of the activities of
the visiting delegations.
Issue No.17 - March 20088
Safety First
Microor-
ganisms
in cars
cause
allergiesCleaning a vehicle’s interior of dust is no longer done out of pampering, but has become a serious requirement for the safety of the driver and passengers. Studies conducted by the German Environmental Analysis Union indicated that accumulating dust inside the car, and especially on the upholstery, allows for the multiplication of microorganisms that live on it. This can cause allergies for passengers. Similar studies conducted in the US and Brazil reached the
same conclusion.
Velvet upholstery and moths
When talking about the causes of allergies inside the car, the moth is an important perpetrator, according to Jurg Thomas, the German specialist in allergies. He says this insect finds the conditions inside the car optimum, because velvet us usually warm and damp.
8
16
Issue No.17 - March 20084
Issue No.17 - March 2008 5
Letters send to
Editor - in - Chief
Address:
Higher Traffic Council
Kuwait - Shuwaikh B
Block 2 Street 20
Tel. : 484 7893 / 484 9857
Fax: 481 4356
P.O. Box: 8 Shamiya 71661 Kuwait
E-mail: [email protected]
In this IssueIn this Issue
Traffic News6
Legal Highlights26
Op-ed28
United National
Organized in implementation of UN General Assembly resolution
First UN Global Road Safety Week (1-2)Out of the keenness of the United National (UN)
and the World Health Organization (WHO) for
protecting road users and providing a safe traffic
environment, the First UN Global Road Safety
Week was held. Al-Mururiya, out of keenness
for raising traffic awareness, will shed light
on the UN’s role in organizing this event, its
objectives and main message. It will also provide
information on road injuries, as well as human
and material losses worldwide as a result of
traffic accidents.
Increasing efforts
The First UN Global Road Safety Week comes
in implementation of the UN General Assembly
resolution on improving safety on roads
worldwide. This resolution was the result of a
number of recommendations by the UN General
Assembly and WHO.
These efforts reflect the increasing interest
in standing up to road accidents on the part
of governments, health organizations and
development institutions around the world. The
safety of road users has become one of the most
complex social problems that the international
community suffers from as a whole.
Initiatives
The First UN Global Road Safety Week is
considered a historic event, aimed at curbing
traffic-related accidents through more advanced
methods.
Many initiatives were taken during the event
around the world at different levels, whether by
governments or non-governmental organizations,
the UN and other international agencies, and the
private sector, in order to make roads safer. The
event, celebrated around the world, is considered
the first of many efforts to increase safety in the
years to come.
Target audience
The First UN Global Road Safety Week dedicated
all efforts to youth because children and youth
account for 1.2 million of those killed on roads
annually. Statistics indicate that 40% of all of
those killed in road accidents are aged 25 or
below.
The idea of the event is to improve road safety,
and thus the sessions held on the sidelines
were useful to road users of all ages. Initiatives
included the prohibition of driving under the
influence of alcohol and speeding.
Objectives
The objective of the event is to protect road users
and provide the necessary safety procedures.
Thus, participants shed light on the event and
encouraged governments and civil societies to
take urgent steps toward raising awareness on
the impact of traffic-related injuries, especially
among youth, and to reaffirm the need for
Traffic Technology
Issue No.17 - March 200820
A device with three eyes and a single leg!
What’s your favorite color?
Roads are governed by laws, three to be precise.
There are three colors at most intersections that
are observed by drivers and pedestrians alike.
The most revered is red, and the favorite in green
because it indicated freedom and allows for
saving time, while yellow offers the last change
before being subjugated to red. Between these
colors hangs the issue of life, which is endangered
if these signals are mixed up or misinterpreted.
So, what is the story behind this device with three
eyes and a single leg?
History of traffic lights
The first traffic light with red and green light was installed in front of the London Parliament in 1868. J.P. Knight, who was an expert in the railway signaling, designed this traffic light as a rather outmoded railway semaphore with two arms and two gas lamps - red and green.
A policeman would change the lights manually and the signaling served mainly for stopping traffic, to allow the pedestrians to cross the street. But the traffic light lasted for only a year. Then one of the lamps exploded and injured the policeman who was attending it.
A modern type of traffic light was introduced in 1914 in Cleveland in Ohio. It had red and green light and a warning sound signal, which was always set off when the lights were changing. Three-color traffic lights with red, green and yellow lights were installed in New York in 1918 and were attended by an assistant seated in a box high above the crossroad.
The French installed traffic lights in Paris in 1923
18
20
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 5
Issue No.17 - March 200822
Traffic Study
Traffic light performance must be enhanced
Regulates traffic, but has impact on violations
Dr. Hamid Omar Al-Bar, a professor at theCollege of Engineering at King Abdulaziz University, says traffic lights – when properly used – largely contribute to regulating traffic, especially at intersections. The way in which these traffic lights work has evolved and so have their features. New systems have been developed to control timings and to select the right intervalsfor each intersection, thus coordinating between traffic lights and raising their efficiency and performance.This came in a research paper presented by the professor to the Second National Traffic SafetyConference held in Saudi Arabia under the slogan “Traffic lights and their impact on violations.”
Central control systems have proven efficiency; information must be made available, training a must
Traffic control
Dr. Al-Bar noted that traffic lights are considered
among the most important means to control traffic,
and can have a positive and negative impact on
the flow of cars because they help regulate the
movement of vehicles and pedestrians at crowded
intersections within a certain time interval, thus
allowing each director the right amount of time
to move. The flow of traffic may be obstructed or
hindered at intersections if standards for installing
and operating traffic lights are not properly
followed, and may even lead to more dangerous
accidents.
22
Traffic News Traffic News Traffic News TTraffic News
The Interior Ministry’s first man The Interior Ministry’s first man In an honorable initiative, Interior Minister Sheikh
Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah was driving along King
Fahad Highway with one of his guards when he saw a
driver with four children speeding. The minister asked
his guard to follow the driver and issue him with a
fine, and the driver was stopped, his license revoked,
and he was asked to follow the minister to Mina
Abdullah Police Station. At the station, the policemen
were surprised by the minister’s visit, and the driver
was penalized for speeding and reckless driving.
Traffic week reflects spirit ofTraffic week reflects spirit ofGulf cooperation Gulf cooperation
On the occasion of the GCC Traffic Week, which
reflects the ability of Gulf states to counter traffic
problems with strong will and through dialogue
and exchanging ideas, Interior Undersecretary
Lieutenant General Ahmad Al-Rujaib stressed
the importance of this annual event.
Upon receiving participating delegations,
he noted the great spirit of cooperation
and consolidation that this event reflected,
noting that it came as a result of constant
coordination and the keenness for countering
traffic challenges.
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 20086
s Traffic NewsTraffic News Traffic News
KD 5 fine for using mobile phone KD 5 fine for using mobile phone while driving without headsetwhile driving without headset
As of May 1, any driver using a mobile phone without
a handfree headset will be fined KD 5. This comes in
implementation of an order by Interior Minister Sheikh
Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. As stipulated in the order,
no driver is to hold a mobile phone while driving, and
thus it is acceptable to take calls using a headset.
The implementation of this order will be preceded
by an awareness campaign on the dangers of mobile
phone use while driving and the best ways to make
and take calls, such as parking to the right side of the
road or in parking areas so as to avoid blocking the
flow of traffic.
The fine has been set at KD 5, and in cases where the
fine is referred to court, the fine is hiked to KD 15. The
court has the authority to raise the fine if the violation
is repeated.
KISR thanks HTC KISR thanks HTC The Secretariat of the Higher Traffic Council (HTC) received a letter from Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Naji Al-Mutairi in which he expressed his deep appreciation for the council’s gift to the institute - a publication entitled “HTC ... Aspirations and Challenges.” The book documents activities of the council over two decades. The KISR chief thanked HTC employees for all their efforts, saying that the council helped raise social awareness on traffic-related issues. Al-Mutairi also expressed appreciation for HTC’s efforts in placing traffic plans and policies
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 7
“Wrongful overtaking “Wrongful overtaking is deadly”is deadly”
The 24th GCC Traffic The 24th GCC Traffic WeekWeek
Traffic File
Year after year, and a the same time, member states of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) mark the unified traffic week, which
is being held this year under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking is
deadly.” During the event, traffic delegations exchange visits to gain
experience, share information, and stay updated on traffic issues. Al-
Mururiya covered the event, and here are some of the activities of
the visiting delegations.
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 20088
Major General Thabet Al-Muhanna: Goal is not to
write out tickets
Under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking is deadly,” activities
of the 24th GCC Traffic Week kicked off on March 8 at
The Avenues Mall. An exhibition on this occasion was
inaugurated by Assistant Interior Undersecretary for
Traffic Affairs Major General Thabet Al-Muhanna. In
a welcoming speech to participating delegations, he
indicated the scope of the problem and called for raising
traffic awareness among road users. He underscored that
such occasions were not aimed at writing out tickets, but
sought to spread awareness. Al-Muhanna, traffic officials
and visiting delegations toured the exhibition, which
included a pavilion for the Higher Traffic Council (HTC).
The assistant undersecretary lauded the publications of
HTC, which were in both Arabic and English. He stressed
the need to circulate these publications to as large a number
of people as possible, through distribution at colleges and
schools, among others. Al-Muhanna promised to remove
all obstacles in order to achieve this, and publications were
presented to the delegates, who expressed their appreciation
for the role played by HTC in spreading traffic awareness.
After the tour, the exhibition was opened to the public. The
HTC pavilion was popular with people of all ages.
Activities of the Traffic Week varied from field trips along
highways and roads to Al-Razi Orthopedic Hospital, as well
as a visit to traffic departments. On March 10, Al-Mururiya
went on a tour with the visiting delegations to the Traffic
Engineering and Operations Department (Control Room),
and the license plates factory. They were received by:
- Colonel Khalid Al-Faris
Director of the Traffic Engineering Department
- Eng. Mamdouh Al-Enizi
Head of the Central Control Unit
- Eng. Faris Al-Enizi
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 9
Engineering Unit
- Eng. Hessa Al-Mutairi
Engineering Unit
- Eng. Khalid Al-Shimmiri
Engineering Unit
- Eng. Abdullah Atch
Head of the Signs Unit
- Eng. Salem Al-Halwachi
Head of the Inspections Unit
- Eng. Waleed Al-Haidar
Head of the Engineering Unit
- Captain Nawaf
Operations
- Assistant Eng. Abdulraman Al-Risheedi
Cameras
Kingdom of Bahrain
Criminalizing use of mobile while
driving
During the tour, participating delegations
listened to an explanation about duties of
each department and unit and discussed
technical issues. The visited departments
included Traffic Engineering and Operations
Management.
Out of keenness for benefiting from the
opinion of the delegates on the Traffic Week,
we met with head of the Bahraini delegation
Lieutenant Abdullah Bubshait, who lauded
efforts of GCC traffic officials in curbing
accidents and human losses. He said that in
Bahrain, officials were keen on spreading
traffic awareness and amending laws in the
interest of road users. He noted the recent
law criminalizing the use of mobile phones
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200810
while driving, and the positive impact this had had. He
called on all road users to observe traffic laws because
they were placed for their safety in the first place.
United Arab Emirates
“Road Criminal” campaign had positive impact
Head of the UAE delegation, Lieutenant Ahmad Hamza
Ramadan, expressed his content with the exhibitions held
at malls on this occasion, saying that this allowed greater
contact with the public and better understanding of their
problems while raising general awareness on traffic issues.
On the slogan of the 24th GCC Traffic Week, he said it
did not only mean the overtaking of other vehicles, but
also driving on safety lanes, running red lights, and when
pedestrians failed to use the allocated zebra crossings.
Asked about the traffic situation in the UAE, he said traffic
issues were introduced as a compulsory subject at applied
colleges and awareness campaigns were held throughout
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 11
the year. The last of these was the “Road
Criminal” campaign, which he said involved
the broadcast of photos of road violators on
television, which was greatly effective. He
called on all road users to maintain their
cars, while placing emphasis on youth and
the protection of family members.
Sultanate of Oman
Traffic Safety Institute
Head of the Omani delegation, Lieutenant
Khamees Al-Amri,
said many traffic-
related deaths in the
GCC called for a
serious contemplation
of the dangers of
wrongful overtaking.
In Oman, he said
speed radars were set
up, and this led to a
significant drop in
accidents and resulting
deaths. Moreover, he
said the Traffic Safety
Institute was set up,
the only one in the Middle
East. This institute organizes
training courses, lectures and
workshops aimed at making
drivers more aware of traffic
issues. The traffic situation
in Oman is not very much
different than that in Kuwait
or the other GCC countries,
he noted, calling on road users
to drive carefully in order to
avoid accidents.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
6358 killed in traffic accidents
On his part, head of the Saudi delegation,
Lieutenant Awayed Al-Ruwaili, explained
that this year’s slogan indicated that any
wrongful overtaking or overlooking of
traffic laws and regulations could lead to
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200812
an accident, whether it be serious or slight.
Likewise, pedestrians bear a part of this
responsibility, because when they cross
roads at places other than zebra crossings,
they put themselves and others in danger.
He added that many misunderstood the
purpose of the Traffic Week, thinking that it
is merely to issue more tickets, when it is in
fact aimed at raising traffic awareness. He
said statistics for the previous year indicated
that in Saudi Arabia, there were 435,263
accidents that claimed the lives of 6,358
people and left 36,025 others injured.
Moreover, he said the kingdom tried hard
to provide the best road services, especially
during the Hajj and Ramadan periods. He
wished all road users safety.
Qatar
Harsher penalties lead to 25% drop in
violations, deaths
Meanwhile, head of the Qatari delegation
Lieutenant Mohammad Abbas Mirdas
spoke about the new traffic law in his
country. Penalties were largely tightened
after traffic authorities noticed that laws
and regulations were being overlooked
due to financial surplus, which required
an amendment of laws. He said excellent
results were realized despite the short period
of time since implementation. Accidents
and traffic-related deaths dropped by 25%.
Prior to the implementation of the law, an
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 13
awareness media campaign was launched.
As to the GCC Traffic Week slogan, he said
overtaking meant an imbalance at some
point, and this created a serious problem.
He lauded the exchange of visits by GCC
traffic officials, as it was a means to share
expertise and build on positive aspects. He
concluded by calling on road users to abide
by traffic rules and regulations because they
were only placed for their benefit.
Al-Razi Hospital
Many activities were held on the sidelines
of the GCC Traffic Week, including a visit
for the delegations to Al-Razi Orthopedic
Hospital. The members took note of cases
admitted for injuries suffered in traffic
accidents, including those in the Intensive
Care Unit. They presented flowers to the
patients and discussed how the accidents
occurred.
Learning to drive
Kuwait Motoring Company was a stop for
the delegations, who were briefed on how
people were trained to drive. They also
visited the driving arena.
Workshops
Workshops were an important part of the GCC
Traffic Week. Four workshops were held:
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200814
one for traffic directors that discussed issues
pertaining to the slogan; the second on traffic
engineering issues in which engineers took
part; a third on the national traffic strategy
held at Kuwait University; and the final one
dealt with traffic operations and control.
Marathon
The Police Sports Union also took part in
the activities of the GCC Traffic Week.
On March 13, the final day of the week, it
organized a marathon in which the sports
bodies of the army, police, and national
guard too part.
Conclusion
At the ceremony concluding the activities
of the GCC Traffic Week, Assistant Interior
Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Major
General Thabet Al-Muhanna said the
event presented a qualitative leap in traffic
awareness and succeeded in making direct
contact with the public. He called for
preparing for next year’s vent with a new
vision and slogan.
He lauded the support of Interior Minister
Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and
Interior Undersecretary Lieutenant General
Ahmad Al-Rujaib. He said this year’s
slogan shed light on the fact that wrongful
overtaking contributed to a great percentage
of traffic accident, which in turn required
more awareness campaigns.
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 15
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200816
Safety First
Microor-Microor-
ganismsganisms
in cars in cars
cause cause
allergiesallergiesCleaning a vehicle’s interior of dust is no longer done out of pampering, but has become a serious requirement for the safety of the driver and passengers. Studies conducted by the German Environmental Analysis Union indicated that accumulating dust inside the car, and especially on the upholstery, allows for the multiplication of microorganisms that live on it. This can cause allergies for passengers. Similar studies conducted in the US and Brazil reached the
same conclusion.
Velvet upholstery and moths
When talking about the causes of allergies inside the car, the moth is an important perpetrator, according to Jurg Thomas, the German specialist in allergies. He says this insect finds the conditions inside the car optimum, because velvet us usually warm and damp.
Conditions are just right for these organisms to
multiply – they feed on the dead skin cells that
are shed from passengers. The steering wheel
alone has some 41,600 types of germs that come
from unwashed hands and food residue.
Symptoms
Specialist Anya Schwalwenburg of the German
Cardio Medicine Union says the allergy-causing
substance excreted by the moth can cause eye
redness and itching, nose itch or sneezing,
and can also lead to respiratory difficulties
such as asthma, thus distracting the driver and
contributing to accidents.
Seats
The moth settles inside the car within a few
months and it is difficult to prevent their
presence. Our advice is to have seats washed
regularly. However, even this can make moths
stick to the upholstery, making it difficult for the
vacuum to such them out. The best alternative is
to choose thick leather for the seats, making it
difficult for the organisms to penetrate them.
Issue No.17 - March 2008 17
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200818
United National
18
Organized in implementation of UN General Assembly resolution
First UN Global Road First UN Global Road Safety Week Safety Week (1-2)(1-2)Out of the keenness of the United National (UN)
and the World Health Organization (WHO) for
protecting road users and providing a safe traffic
environment, the First UN Global Road Safety
Week was held. Al-Mururiya, out of keenness
for raising traffic awareness, will shed light
on the UN’s role in organizing this event, its
objectives and main message. It will also provide
information on road injuries, as well as human
and material losses worldwide as a result of
traffic accidents.
Increasing efforts
The First UN Global Road Safety Week comes
in implementation of the UN General Assembly
resolution on improving safety on roads
worldwide. This resolution was the result of a
number of recommendations by the UN General
Assembly and WHO.
These efforts reflect the increasing interest
in standing up to road accidents on the part
of governments, health organizations and
development institutions around the world. The
safety of road users has become one of the most
complex social problems that the international
community suffers from as a whole.
Initiatives
The First UN Global Road Safety Week is
considered a historic event, aimed at curbing
traffic-related accidents through more advanced
methods.
Many initiatives were taken during the event
around the world at different levels, whether by
governments or non-governmental organizations,
the UN and other international agencies, and the
private sector, in order to make roads safer. The
event, celebrated around the world, is considered
the first of many efforts to increase safety in the
years to come.
Target audience
The First UN Global Road Safety Week dedicated
all efforts to youth because children and youth
account for 1.2 million of those killed on roads
annually. Statistics indicate that 40% of all of
those killed in road accidents are aged 25 or
below.
The idea of the event is to improve road safety,
and thus the sessions held on the sidelines
were useful to road users of all ages. Initiatives
included the prohibition of driving under the
influence of alcohol and speeding.
Objectives
The objective of the event is to protect road users
and provide the necessary safety procedures.
Thus, participants shed light on the event and
encouraged governments and civil societies to
take urgent steps toward raising awareness on
the impact of traffic-related injuries, especially
among youth, and to reaffirm the need for
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 1919
UN Secretary General: Road safety achieved through deliberate, studied efforts
Event calls for creating safer roads
highlighting measures that greatly
lessened risks of injury (helmets,
seatbelts, refraining from driving
under the influence of alcohol,
remaining within speeding limits,
regulating roads and infrastructure).
The implementation of the above is
an important step toward improving
health and wellness of road users.
Messages
The event affirmed that traffic
injuries were a vast global problem
that affected general health and
development. It is expected to increase
in the coming year, and could greatly
affect male youth, who are subjected
to traffic injuries three times greater
than females.
The event also indicated that
traffic accidents could be avoided
through properly dealing with
contributing factors mentions in the
event’s objectives, and working to
consolidate them. It also noted that
road safety could not be achieved
through happenstance, and thus a
distinguished plan had to be prepared
in order to achieve the desired
goals. There must exist cooperation
between the governments and people,
because cooperation is a prerequisite
for boosting national efforts for road
safety.
In the next issue, we will shed light
on some concerning statistics.
UN Secretary General’s message on the occasion of the First UN Global Road Safety
This First United Nations Global Road Safety Week -- dedicated to young road users -- is a platform for improving safety for the hundreds of millions of young people who travel the world’s roads every day.Since World Health Day 2004, and subsequent discussions in the United Nations General Assembly, Governments and their partners have paid increased attention to road safety. But there is still much progress to be made. Road traffic collisions kill nearly 1.2 million people worldwide every year, and injure millions more. They are the leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 24 years, with devastating impact on families and communities.Road traffic deaths and injuries also place an enormous strain on a country’s health care system, and on the national economy in general. In regions where young people constitute a major part of the population, the problem is even more acute. On average, road traffic injuries cost low- and middle-income countries between more than one percent of Gross National Product. For all these reasons, road traffic injuries are an important obstacle to development.Fortunately, there is a growing recognition that road traffic injuries can be prevented. A number of countries have shown that by taking action on drink-driving, speeding, use of helmets and seat-belts, and increasing the visibility of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, a significant number of lives can be saved and resources spared, even as motorization continues to rise. The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration has addressed these issues as priorities.Because prevention measures require political will and financial investments in efforts targeting young people, decisions to improve road safety need to be made at the highest levels of Government. Beyond government ministries of transport, health and education, many others have a role to play: parents and guardians, educators, community and business leaders, automobile associations, insurers and vehicle manufacturers, celebrities and the media, survivors of road traffic crashes and their families.Road safety will not happen by accident. Through the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety -- the key global event of the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week -- and hundreds of other events being hosted around the world, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Regional Commissions and their partners are giving a voice to young people. Let us listen to their advice. And let us improve safety on the world’s roads, for their sake and for ours.
Traffic Technology
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200820
A device with A device with three eyes and three eyes and a single leg!a single leg!
What’s your favorite color?
Roads are governed by laws, three to be precise.
There are three colors at most intersections that
are observed by drivers and pedestrians alike.
The most revered is red, and the favorite in green
because it indicated freedom and allows for
saving time, while yellow offers the last change
before being subjugated to red. Between these
colors hangs the issue of life, which is endangered
if these signals are mixed up or misinterpreted.
So, what is the story behind this device with three
eyes and a single leg?
History of traffic lights
The first traffic light with red and green light was installed in front of the London Parliament in 1868. J.P. Knight, who was an expert in the railway signaling, designed this traffic light as a rather outmoded railway semaphore with two arms and two gas lamps - red and green.
A policeman would change the lights manually and the signaling served mainly for stopping traffic, to allow the pedestrians to cross the street. But the traffic light lasted for only a year. Then one of the lamps exploded and injured the policeman who was attending it.
A modern type of traffic light was introduced in 1914 in Cleveland in Ohio. It had red and green light and a warning sound signal, which was always set off when the lights were changing. Three-color traffic lights with red, green and yellow lights were installed in New York in 1918 and were attended by an assistant seated in a box high above the crossroad.
The French installed traffic lights in Paris in 1923
تكنولوجيا مرورية
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 21
and completed them with a gong, which was there
to draw the drivers’ attention to the fact, that the
lights would be changed.
The semaphores came back to London in 1926.
All these traffic lights were still attended manually.
The first automatic traffic light could be seen in
Wolverhampton, England in 1927.
Football and signals
The idea of using red, yellow and green cards by
football referees was adopted from traffic lights.
Ken Aston was in charge of the referees at the 1966
World Cup. During England’s stormy quarter-
final against Argentina at Wembley, the visiting
captain, Antonio Rattin, refused to leave the field
after being sent off by the German referee, Rudolf
Kreitlein.
Aston ran on to the pitch and, in his schoolboy
Spanish, tried to persuade Rattin to depart so
the game could continue. Driving away from
the stadium later that day Aston began to ponder
the problem of how referees could make their
intentions clear to players without having to
speak the same language. At that same moment
he stopped at some traffic lights and saw the red,
amber and green. And that’s how the idea of using
colored cards was born.
Town removes traffic lights
The town of Bohmte in the German state of
Lower Saxony has gotten rid of its road signs
in a bid to cut accidents. Road signs have been
removed, sidewalks and asphalt were replaced by
cobblestones and cycle lanes and sidewalks are
now distinguished from the road only by color.
The idea is based on the European Union-supported
“Shared Space” concept of traffic management
developed by the Dutch traffic expert Hans
Monderman. According to the concept, road users
have to negotiate their behavior with each other,
rather than have it prescribed by rules -- the idea being
that people will pay more attention to what other road
users are doing and hence cause fewer accidents.
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200822
Traffic Study
Traffic light performance must be enhancedTraffic light performance must be enhanced
Regulates traffic, but has impact on violationsRegulates traffic, but has impact on violations
Dr. Hamid Omar Al-Bar, a professor at the College of Engineering at King Abdulaziz University, says traffic lights – when properly used – largely contribute to regulating traffic, especially at intersections. The way in which these traffic lights work has evolved and so have their features. New systems have been developed to control timings and to select the right intervals for each intersection, thus coordinating between traffic lights and raising their efficiency and performance.This came in a research paper presented by the professor to the Second National Traffic Safety Conference held in Saudi Arabia under the slogan “Traffic lights and their impact on violations.”
Central control systems have proven efficiency; information must be made available, training a must
Traffic control
Dr. Al-Bar noted that traffic lights are considered
among the most important means to control traffic,
and can have a positive and negative impact on
the flow of cars because they help regulate the
movement of vehicles and pedestrians at crowded
intersections within a certain time interval, thus
allowing each director the right amount of time
to move. The flow of traffic may be obstructed or
hindered at intersections if standards for installing
and operating traffic lights are not properly
followed, and may even lead to more dangerous
accidents.
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 23
He defines traffic lights as “traffic control devices
that are power-operated and instruct traffic to
move or stop consecutively.”
The researcher notes that previous studies indicate
that the percentage of pedestrians that violate
traffic lights at intersections is great when they
are held back at peak hours needlessly due to the
ineffective time interval set for the pedestrian
traffic light. The percentage of violators is
also large outside peak hours due to the short
operational intervals, compelling drivers to run
red lights.
Installation
The professor explains that the unified guide on
traffic control devices lists eight main conditions
based on which a traffic light is installed at an
intersection – if non apply, then the installation
of the traffic light will have a negative impact. Of
these negative impacts is the constant violation of
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200824
traffic laws (minimum traffic volume – constant
stopping – pedestrians – school zones – traffic
flow coordination – traffic accidents – regulating
the network).
The researcher stresses the importance of
programming a suitable interval and for drivers to
respect them. He notes that in many cases, traffic
lights (time intervals for green, yellow and red
lights) are not in proportion with the volume of
traffic. Traffic violations increase, for instance,
when a driver waits for a long time at the red
light when the lane with the green light is empty.
This encourages the driver to run the red light,
especially in an emergency. Also, having a long
interval for the yellow light leads to the running
of the red light.
Coordination and maintenance
He explains that coordinating traffic lights is most
important for improving traffic flow, especially
when lights are closer together or fall on the same
axis. Coordination may take place along this axis
or throughout the network of traffic lights on a
number of axes within a single area, such as the
city center where there are many traffic lights.
Operation must be adjustable according to traffic
volume, and thus intervals are changed based on
devices that detect and monitor traffic volume at
different points of the road network. These devices
collect data and transmit it to a central control
room where the optimum internals are selected
with the help of a computer program, and then is
sent to the traffic light operation cabin for interval
adjustment.
Dr. Al-Bar also stresses that failing to properly
maintain traffic signals or not operating them at full
efficiency can lead to running red lights. He notes
the importance of adhering to the maintenance
timetable and changing light bulbs in order to
avoid disrupting traffic flow at intersections,
which in turn causes accidents and traffic jams.
Survey
The researcher refers to a field study conducted
at intersections in Makkah, aimed at improving
traffic flow. It notes that there are 107 intersections
controlled by three types of devices, each with
advantages and disadvantages.
The study also proposes a project for improving
traffic flow in the city of Jeddah in terms of road
planning and traffic operation. The researcher
says that traffic light failure or inefficiency due to
lack of maintenance or needless installation can
raise costs of travel and transportation, increase
the need for maintenance, hike accidents and legal
consequences.
Dr. Al-Bar notes that there are only three official
channels responsible for placing traffic lights at
intersections, each within its jurisdiction. He says
that each body has prepared a technical guide on
the standards of traffic lights and other related
devices. He notes that the Interior Ministry’s
Traffic Department oversees all traffic lights in
the cities of the kingdom, while the Transportation
Ministry monitors the road networks it lays.
In an attempt to unify the body supervising traffic
lights, the National Traffic Safety Committee has
prepared a study for a unified guide that lists the
experiences of advanced countries and references
for the Engineering Department (responsible for
traffic lights) which indicated that overseeing
traffic lights is the responsibility of municipalities.
It also highlights the role of municipalities in the
development and planning of cities, as well as in
installing and operating traffic lights.
Opinions
The researcher prepared a survey of drivers
aimed at gaining insight on their opinions over
traffic lights in terms of need, time intervals,
maintenance, penalties and general features. The
poll includes a random population of people doing
paperwork at the licensing departments in Jeddah
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 25
and Makkah. The survey indicates the following:
1 – On whether there are sufficient traffic lights,
54.7% say yes, 30.3% say more are needed, while
15% say there are too many.
2 – As to the clarity of meaning of traffic lights,
71.5% say they are clear, while 28.5% say they
are not.
3 – As to location, 84.6% say it is clear and 25.4%
say the opposite.
4 – 49.5% say some traffic lights are confusing
and can lead to accidents or violations, while
50.5% say the opposite.
5 – 72.1% say traffic lights are in need of
maintenance, and 27.9% disagree.
6 – 79.5% are content with existing penalties,
while 25.5% say they are not satisfied with them.
7 – 81.1% say the implementation of penalty
regulations will reduce violations, while 18.9%
do not think so.
The survey points at a number of findings that
were studied and analyzed, leading to several
recommendations.
Findings
The researcher says lack of coordination between
traffic lights and failing to program suitable
time intervals based on factual elements related
to traffic flow can push some drivers to commit
violations and disrespect the law. He also stresses
the importance of maintenance of traffic lights
to avoid sudden breakdowns and confusion on
roads.
He notes that the growth in traffic flow in large
Saudi cities requires central control for operating
modern technology at intersections, thus reducing
waiting periods and improving the flow of traffic,
reflecting positively on the behavior of drivers
and their abidance by traffic regulations.
Recommendations
The researcher stresses the importance of placing
greater emphasis on improving the performance
of traffic lights, unifying their features, operating
the, based on modern studies, adopting a unified
operation guide, implementing central control
systems, and preparing the necessary workforce
and programs for future improvements.
He also calls for transferring full supervision of
traffic lights to main municipality council in major
Saudi cities, while increasing the monitoring of
traffic flow at intersections and highways provided
that this transmission takes place gradually.
Moreover, he calls for training local technicians
and engineers on designing, installing, operating
and maintaining traffic lights, as well as tasking
a specialized consultancy body with placing a
unified guide for traffic lights in the kingdom
that takes into account modern technologies and
requirements.
The researcher also notes the importance of
following up and activating ministerial orders
related to monitoring traffic lights, as well as
developing new supervision methods, while
making the society aware of this monitoring
through media channels.
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 200826
Protection of road users, model driving affirmed in
article 35
Legal Highlights
Traffic law protects environment, Traffic law protects environment, maintains roadsmaintains roads
Traffic Law 67/76 and its further amendments
To further elaborate on penalties stipulated in Traffic Law 67/76 and its further amendments, we will discuss here articles 35 and 36, and provide simplified explanations.
Article 35
The article stipulates that without violation of the appointed treaty in this law or with any punishment more intense in other laws, a prison term not exceeding 15 days or pay a fine of no more than KD 25 or one of the previous punishments will be handed in the following cases:
1 – Driving a vehicle without the owners consent or knowledge.
2 – Driving a vehicle that has unclear license plates, or if the plate cannot be read, its place is changed, or if its share or color is altered.
3 – Driving a vehicle without a license o if the license is expired.
4 – Refusing to show the drivers license or any other licenses required by law to the police when asked to do so.
5 – Violating the conditions for length, width, weight and height for transportation vehicles.
6 – Driving a vehicle that emits thick smoke or bad smells, or produces noises.
7 – Using lights, loud speakers, horns or any other appliances that are not permitted by law, and these are seized and confiscated.
8 – Vandalizing traffic signs and lights, monitoring and traffic control devices, or changing them in any way or sticking posters on them.
9 – Driving a vehicle on pavements or pedestrian lanes, or parking there.
10 – Parking at night along highways or dark roads without flashing signals.
11 – Using headlights on high beam.
12 – Failing to follow road
lines and traffic signals.
13 – Circling or driving against traffic flow.
14 – Driving a vehicle without a valid insurance document.
15 – Failing to notify authorities of the change in address or reporting loss of license.
Article 36
The legislator found it sufficient to issue a fine for violations in this article and did not stipulate a prison term as in other articles. The fine, as a penalty, compels the violator to pay a sum of money to the State Treasury.
The penalty, in the modern criminal policy, is considered the main alternative to imprisonment, especially short prison terms, due to the added negative impact it would have on the violators.
The article states that, without violating the appointed rule of this law or any punishment more intense in any other law, a fine of KD 15 will be issued in the following cases:
1 – Taxi and public
Issue No.17 - March 2008 27
Legislator issues fine but no prison term to avoid unnecessary damage to
accused
Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 27
transportation vehicles violating the maximum number of passengers or refusing without an excuse to transport passengers or violating the applied charge.
2 – Leaving animals on public roads without a herdsman, or if the herdsman violates traffic rules or neglects to watch over the animals.
3 – Pedestrians and motorbikers who violate traffic rules.
4 – Driving an unlicensed vehicle or without having a drivers license.
5 – Driving below the minimum speeding limit if this results in obstructing traffic flow.
6 – Driving a vehicle without having on the necessary lights.
7 – Leaving the car by the side of the road carelessly.
8 – Failing to wear a seatbelt.
9 – Parking in places allocated for the handicapped.
10 – Passengers are found on the exterior of the vehicle.
11 – Driving a vehicle that lacks in any one of the safety features.
12 – Violating the instructions, directions or orders of traffic police personnel.
13 – Laminating vehicle windows.
Issue No.17 - March 200828
People will remain people in all ages and locations and they will constantly need guidance and
awareness. After working for more than 30 years in the educational sector, the last position of which
was Director General of Religious Education, and in my current position as advisor to the Arab Towns
Organization’s director general, and through following up what is being published and broadcast in
the media in relations to traffic issues, I would like to emphasize the following points:
1 – Imposing traffic laws through raising awareness and to have a media address after every news
break, and on websites so as to reach out to people of all ages and nationalities, and to include all
languages spoken by expatriates. This will create a suitable platform for implementing traffic plans
and to stay in touch with the public. This will also help appease people’s worries regarding traffic
catastrophes that occur in even the furthest roads.
2 – Presenting a role model in implementing the philosophy of using the road as an educational tool
that starts at home ad school and other gathering places such as the diwaniyas, coffee shops and
forums for youth, expatriates and citizens. We lack greatly in this area, especially when it comes to
irresponsible groups that are too haughty or intentionally ignore traffic regulations. Also, driving
schools need to make sure that instructors do not covey the driving behaviors of their own countries,
and to instead instruct according to the local culture. Another concerning issue is when government
trucks carrying load scatter debris because the load is not properly covered.
3 – Car exhaust fumes smoke our roads and pollute our climate, safe from prosecution and penalties.
It has become a daily practice matched only by the use of mobile phones that has been known to
cause most of the catastrophic accidents that are claiming the loves of many every day. This comes
hand in hand with drivers giving up on the use of the most important guarantee of safety – the seat-
belt.
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Op-ed
People are PeoplePeople are People
By Mohammad Abdullah Al-Jassem Al-Saqer
Advisor to the Secretary General of the Arab Towns Organization
28 Issue No.17 - March 2008