KSA shocker: Over 500,000 accidents a year cause SR20bn losses

JEDDAH: The Kingdom loses about SR20 billion each year from more than 500,000 traffic accidents, according to a local academic. Abdullah Al-Rubaish, president of the University of Dammam, said that more than 30 percent of the beds at the Kingdom’s hospitals are occupied by patients injured in accidents. Al-Rubaish said that the recent award launched to find the country’s ideal driver would help people abide by the nation’s traffic laws. “Our entire society badly needs more awareness and outreach programs to reduce these traffic accidents and protect citizens and residents,” said Al-Rubaish. He called on the public to participate in the contest for the ideal driver launched by the Saudi Society for Traffic Safety in the Eastern Province. “The society has succeeded over the few past few years in raising awareness among motorists and educating them on the importance of adhering to traffic laws,” he said. He said that more than 7,000 people visited the portal of the award since it was launched, with about 400 having registered. Participants must have had no traffic fines for three consecutive years.