issue no - ministry of interior - kuwait::home · · 2008-02-19issue noÆ 4 february 2007 5 ......

5Issue NoÆ 4 February 2007

Read in this IssueRead in this IssueTraffic Talk 6

Traffic News 10

Safety First 18

Spot Light 25

Op≠Ed by DrÆ Abdullah Yousif Sahar 28

Major Factors Contributing to Traffic

Accidents

Traffic Fines

22

66

2626

Letters send toEditor - 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]

CV of Minister of State for Municipal AffairsAbdullah Saud Al-Muhailbi, born in 1963, has held the position of Minister of State for Municipal Af-fairs since March 2006. He holds a bachelors degree in teaching geography from Kuwait University and became a member of the Municipal Council in 1995. As council member, he held the following positions:- secretary of the technical committee (1995)- head of the legal and financial committee (1999)- head of the Hawally Governorate committee- head of the public markets committee- head of the investigations committeeHe is also a member of the Society for Protecting Public Funds, the Health Volunteer Committee, as well as member, treasurer, and secretary of Rumaithiya Co-op Society.


How long will this continue?

A year has passed and a new one begins, but not without stopping to contemplate on the happy and sad moments we experienced. We must look back to amend imbalances with regard to traffic, a cause for concern especially as it is so laden with suffering.

Official traffic statistics clearly indicate careless violation of the law, with 2,757,485 traffic tickets issued in 2006 alone. Failing to abide by traffic laws led to the occurrence of 50,000 accidents, and even worse is that 450 people were killed last year in the so-called daily “street war”.

To make the tragedy even greater, those killed or seriously wounded people in traffic-related accidents fell mostly in the age group of 21 to 30 years old, the age at which people were most productive. Speeding, coupled with reckless driving, and running red traffic lights top the list of causes of the most serious traffic accidents. In reality, these numbers are not merely statistics, but are lost lives and damages to the society’s greatest asset – people. This is why I ask myself, how long will this continue?

How long are we going to remain unaware of the size of this crisis and its destruction of the Kuwaiti society’s most important element - its members- who are the main prerequisite for development? How long are we going to keep hurting each other? How long will the daily bloodshed continue? How long are these endless traffic accidents going to go on? How long are we going to let such accidents take away the best of our children and obliterate our aspirations for a generation that would continue in our footsteps? We must realize just how dangerous the situation is and how it is directly and indirectly affecting our lives. Isn’t it time to take a serious stance and prevent ourselves, our families, and our children from subsequent misery?

All state institutions and all sects of the society hope the new year is better than the ones that preceded it, and one that witnesses a drop in traffic violations and accidents so that we can all live in peace and security.

I am calling through “Al-Mururiya” on everyone to work hand-in-hand and consolidate efforts to stand up to this phenomena using a well-studied methods that limit negative affects and presented suitable solutions. And we must always remember that we are all held accountable and are subjected to the dangers of this plague.

Colonel Dr.Abdullah Mohammad Al-Traiji

E-mail: [email protected]

6 Issue NoÆ 4 February 2007

An interview with Minister of State for Municipal AffairsAn interview with Minister of State for Municipal Affairs

Al-Muhailbi: International consulting bureauAl-Muhailbi: International consulting bureauto place Kuwait’s model traffic projectto place Kuwait’s model traffic project

Despite his busy schedule, we were able to

conduct this interview with Minister of

State for Municipal Affairs Abdullah

Al-Muhailbi in which he noted

the aim to transfer Kuwait into

an important regional financial

center. This, he said, could only

be achieved when all supervision

and monitoring bodies of the state

carried out their duties in the

best manner.

T r a f f i c Ta l k

Interview conducted by:

Colonel/ Dr. Abdullah Al-TraijiDr. Abdullah Al-TraifColone/ l Rabeea Al-MutairiAdel Botaiban


Six locations for first phase of multi-storey car park project

Locations in West Abu Futaira, Industrial Ardiya for car sales

Car ParksTo begin with, the minister spoke of the car park problem, saying there were not enough parking lots to accommodate the number of cars present at public locations. He said this problem was especially evident in the Asima (capital) Governorate. To overcome this problem, Kuwait Municipality placed plans for multi-storey car parks in the downtown area where commercial offices were abundant. He said this was made even more vital with increasing the percentage of commercial real estate in the city center. Six locations were proposed in the first phase of this plan, and modifications could be made at a later time should they be needed. As for roof parking areas in existing multi-storey car parks, he said each case would be looked into separately in light of municipal laws and regulations.

ATVsAsked about the illegal use of state property to trade in all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other vehicles, he said an executive body in all municipal branches issued fines to violators of the law on illegal occupation of roads, squares, sidewalks, and open areas. This, he said, was being carried out in cooperation with related departments of the Interior Ministry.Moreover, the minister said there was a request for designating special areas for such usage, but explained that this has to be done in affiliation with a government authority as land could not be allocated to private companies or individuals.

Car DisplayAl-Muhailbi explained that usage of public squares and sidewalks for commercial purposes was regulated by ministerial order 149 for the year 2006, where the following conditions applied:1 – That the open area be directly adjoined to the car sales outlet.2 – That usage of this area does not obstruct traffic, with at least three meters for pedestrian use with no more than ten meters used in total.3 – That the area be cleared out if the car sales outlet is

no longer operating.4 – The licensee must pave the area in a consistent manner after obtaining approval from the construction department and must take safety regulations into consideration.5 – With municipal approval, vegetation may be planted and beautification aspects added, but not anything that would distort the general landscape.6 – Abiding by general cleanliness regulations.As for overcoming the problem of increasing displays of cars for sale in residential areas, the minister said

the municipality designated areas in West Abu Futaira and in Industrial Ardiya for this purpose.

Construction SitesThe minister said there were strict regulations imposed by

supervision bodies at all municipal branches with regard to construction works and it was made clear that any inefficiency in implementing these regulations would not be accepted. He said this ensured unobstructed roads in the area, pedestrian safety, and guaranteed protection for private property. It also made sure that constructors removed debris and left the site as it was when delivered or otherwise face legal consequences.

Cleaning CompaniesAs for cleaning companies the municipality had contracts with and their use of automated sweepers that stood in the way of traffic, Al-Muhailbi said contracts stipulated a specific schedule for these chores and these took into account traffic issues. Should these timing be violated, penalties were imposed in line with the signed contracts.

State land cannot be

allocated to private

companies, individuals


T r a f f i c Ta l k

Strict orders to all supervisory municipal offices to implement laws, regulations

Kuwait Municipality gives utmost priority to those with special needs

Specialized administrative,

technical body to follow up

with cleaning companies

AdvertisementsAsked about campaigning ads and their obstruction of traffic, Al-Muhailbi said these had to be licensed by the municipality according to certain specifications, saying that no effort was spared in preventing the display of unlicensed posters and advertisements. He said that they were most common during campaigning times and the municipality did all it could to remove them.As for stickers some people placed on traffic signs, he explained that ministerial order 172 for the year 2006 prohibited the following:1 – Sticking posters of any kind, writing, and painting on walls.2 – Hanging posters on historic buildings and religious sites.3 – Hanging posters on residential buildings of all kind.4 – Hanging posters on traffic signs and trees.5 – Hanging posters on government buildings and

others of public nature.He said there was constant cooperation with the Interior Ministry to overcome this problem.

Building RegulationsAs to problems that may arise from transforming some residential areas to ones for commercial use, he said the municipality’s executive body prepared a study that included amending construction regulations that took into account a wide range of opinions and recommendations of related government authorities (Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Interior, Environment Public Authority, and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research). The study was designed to accommodate population increase based on cultural, social, environmental, and economic

aspects and according to actual needs of citizens within the framework on the state’s structural plan.

The HandicappedIn response to a question on those with special needs, Al-Muhailbi

said the municipality accorded utmost importance to these people and made sure that specification in public builds, complexes, commercial and industrial facilities were incorporated to accommodate them provided that building plans allowed for such modifications.He said that when new builds were designed, the following issues were taken into consideration:1 – Removing all barriers hindering those with special needs.2 – Constructing ramps at sidewalks and pedestrian areas.3 – Allocating at least one entrance without stairs.4 – Furnishing all ramps with sidebars.Furthermore, the minister said special parking places with international standards were allocated for those with special needs to allow easier movement, and 1 to 2% must be clearly marked for the use of the handicapped.

Mobile Grocery StallsDuring the interview, we touched on chaos created by mobile grocery stalls set up on highways, and


Legal measures against unlicensed advertisements

No new licenses to be issued to mobile food and beverages stalls

Executive municipal

body preparing report for

amending building system

the minister explained the Municipal Council issued a decision in 1999 denying any new licenses to stalls selling food and beverages while those already licensed had to abide by certain regulations. Highway stops are currently being constructed as a means to overcome this phenomenon, he said, adding that municipal personnel continually visited these mobile stalls to make sure they were compliant with regulations.

Road Networks On the municipality’s role in developing road networks in light of increasing traffic, the minister said the municipality assigned an international consulting house in 2005 with studying the existing network of main roads, saying this study took 18 months to complete and recommendations were made to improve the following:- 21 km of branching roads- Constructing a new highway- Expanding 69 km of existing highways- Constructing 56 new crossroads- Developing 30 existing crossroadsThe initial cost for improving roads and maintaining traffic flow was KD 560 million according to prices of materials in 2006, and this study was referred to the Municipal Council for approval.

Abandoned CarsWhen we asked the minister about cars abandoned on highways, the minister said this was indeed an uncivil sight and was not in line with efforts to maintain Kuwait’s beautiful image. To overcome this problem, he said, municipal personnel take legal measures, warning car owners to remove the vehicle within 24 hours or otherwise it is compounded and only released once a certain fee is paid. Recently, I advised municipal officials to look into a mechanism through which to coordinate with the Interior Ministry, thus having police patrol notify of abandoned vehicles so as to take necessary measures.

Study and ResearchFurthermore, Al-Muhailbi spoke of the

municipality’s role in researches and studies regarding roads, saying its structural planning department placed a model traffic project for the country and an 18-month contract would soon be

signed with an international consulting house to look into the plan. The plan, he said, incorporated three recommendations:- improving the traffic system- establishing a new database to ensure results were in line with actual situations, whether

current or in the future- incorporate technical aspects for public transportation

Final WordAnd in a final word, Al-Muhailbi hoped Kuwait would be transformed into a regional financial center, saying this could only be achieved if personnel in the state’s supervisory bodies spread awareness on good conduct and abiding by law as this directly affected government efforts at all levels


Interior Undersecretary honors Interior Undersecretary honors staff of “Good Morning” radio staff of “Good Morning” radio show show & & Mururiya, HTC staffMururiya, HTC staff

T r a f f i c N e w s

Interior Undersecretary and Chairman

of the Higher Traffic Council (HTC)

Lieutenant General Nasser Al-Othman

honored the staff of “Al-Mururiya”

magazine, HTC, and the “Good Morning”

radio show for their efforts and encouraged

them to continue to work for the country’s

interests and that of road users.

For his part, HTC Secretary and Al-

Mururiya’s Editor-in-Chief Dr. Abdullah

Al-Traiji said Al-Othman was always

keen on highlighting the good work and

efforts of those working in the Interior

Ministry and affiliated bodies who

provided services to the country. He

thanked the undersecretary on behalf of

the honorees.

Al-Mururiya staff would like to take this

opportunity to thank the undersecretary

for his kindness and promise to continue

to present the very best through this

magazine.

Statistics 2006Statistics 2006Traffic statistics for 2006 showed a total of

1,215,745 registered vehicles, up 81,703 from

2005 or 7%. Of these, 80% are registered as

private cars.

Numbers also showed there were 988,551

valid driving licenses of which 377,817 were

issued to Kuwaitis and 610,734 belonged to

non-Kuwaitis. This large number of licenses

for non-Kuwaitis comes after the decision to

grant them licenses to overcome unnecessary

traffic congestions.

As for traffic fines, these reached 2,757,485 in

2006, with an average of three fines per driver.

These numbers show the keenness of law

enforcers to properly carry out their duties, as

well as the unfortunate indifference on the part

of drivers!

Moreover, statistics show an increase in the

number of traffic-related deaths, with 460

killed in 2006, up 2% from the previous year.

This, of course, means that we are continuing

to lose those dearest to us – our children!


Traffic-related deaths by age group and gender for 2006

Traffic-related deaths based on nationality for 2006

Qatar’s Interior Service Center - traffic, Qatar’s Interior Service Center - traffic, passports, expatriate affairspassports, expatriate affairs

And on Qatar’s 25th independence anniversary, coinciding in September, the Traffic and Patrols Department launched a number of services. Of these, the most prominent was the Interior Ministry’s Service Center.On service it provides is paying fines owed to countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) through the Interior Ministry’s e-system which links traffic departments and

allows GCC citizens to pay their fines with ease.Center services include registering vehicles and ownership documents, renewing car licenses, transferring vehicle ownership, paying fines, and issuing replacement licenses and car plates.It also provides services for the passports and expatriate affairs departments such as issuing identification cards and visas on the same day, and completing residency documentation for domestic workers and company employees.


T r a f f i c N e w s

More than 100,000 coupons submitted More than 100,000 coupons submitted in second HTC traffic competitionin second HTC traffic competition

On December 26, 2006, the draw for the

Higher Traffic Council’s second Ramadan

competition took place at the headquarters

of the contest’s official sponsor, Al-Watan

newspaper. More than 100,000 coupons

were submitted, indicating the success of

the competition.

The draw was attended by:

• Higher Traffic Council:

1 – HTC Assistant Secretary, Colonel

Abdullah Awadh Al-Ali

2 – Head of the Traffic Media Unit, Adel

Bader Al-Boti Botaiban

3 – Head of the Information Unit, Captain

Abdulilah Al-Abdulsalam

4 – From the Traffic Media Unit, Hanan Al-

Jasser

5 – Staff Sergeant Hussein Dashti

• Public Relations and Moral Guidance:

1 – Lieutenant Sulaiman Abdulridha

Dawood

2 – Staff Warrant Officer Samir Al-Ibrahim

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry:

1 – Acting Head of Commercial Fraud


Combat and Awareness Nawaf Abdulaziz

Al-Sindi

Representing the official sponsor of the

competition, Al-Watan, were Safar Khalid

Al-Mizyed and Ibrahim Abulmajd from the

Public Relations Department.

HTC would like to take this opportunity

to thank Al-Watan for sponsoring this

competition, along with all other companies

that provided prizes. We would also like to

congratulate all winners and hope for their

continued support.

Distributing prizes commenced on January

13, 2007, and winners are requested to

bring their official identification cards to

HTC headquarters in Residential Shuwaikh

B, block 2, street 20. A list of names of the

winners can be found on page (13) in the

Arabic section of the magazine.


T r a f f i c I s s u e

Speeding chooses “buggy” to Speeding chooses “buggy” to commit its Eid crimecommit its Eid crime

Groom-to-be killed and his friend lies in hospital

We present our dear readers of Al-Mururiya with a traffic issue, and we

wish that these were happy ones. This month’s Traffic Issue, however, is

more than just tragic, and may very well be a wakeup call for a youth

who forgot how precious his life is to his family and loved ones.

The coming lines tell a new tragedy; the culprit is the same - speed

and recklessness. But where, and how, and when? This is the tragedy

of that took place this Eid.


Day: Wednesday… Adha Eid holiday.Time: At night… almost no vision.Location: Jlai’a, road 238 exit off road 240, just before the security checkpoint.Accident: A group of youth on older than 22 years old race their buggies, forgetting it was dark and that they should be wearing safety clothes and helmets. They drive recklessly and they speed more and more… they exceed the road speed limit and even that of the vehicle’s engine. They keep going because many engines have been modified to reach a speed of 160 km/h. Suddenly, the road forks!!! Take a left or right? Mental capacity cannot decide fast enough, and one buggy continues forward and off the road… headed to death… it collides into the concrete edge of an eight-meter deep hole left uncovered for unknown reasons… the two passengers are hurled onto the ground, covered in their own blood… the ambulance arrives to take them to hospital and the tragedy begins…

Call Phone rings… Ahmad’s father? Abdullah Al-Kandiri? Please come at once!He arrives and they tell him he has to be strong because his son was involved in an accident. His eldest son, Ahmad – a sergeant with the Interior Ministry - was one of the injured passengers.

The father finds his son, a groom-to-be, in ICU. His heart beats faster and the world starts to sway as he asks the doctor about the condition of his son. The response: he is in a critical condition and if he lives he will be crippled for life and be blind because he received a blow to the head! Ahmad’s younger brother Hasan is taken by the shock even before his father and runs outside. His uncles run after him and try to calm him, and then they start to wonder how the accident occurred. When had Ahmad left the house and why? Thousands of questions went through their heads, but the only answer was the one repeated by the father: It is the will of Allah… this is Ahmad’s fate.

Hospital Ahmad remains in ICU, while his dear friend and colleague, also a sergeant and the driver of the buggy regains consciousness after sustaining fractures, wounds, and a stomach injury.He tells the story, but Ahmad remains inICU and reasons will not change the outcomes… Ahmad’s father checks on his son’s friend and wishes him well, and hopes he learns from

Speeding chooses “buggy” to commit its Eid crime


T r a f f i c I s s u ethis accident.Ahmad’s father returns to the hospital on Friday – Arafah Day – at 10:00 a.m.One of the doctors asks: Where are you going?Father: To check on my son in bed number 3 – Ahmad Al-Kandiri.Doctor: Your son has passed away…The father tells us how he recently bought his son the traditional “bisht” in preparation for his coming wedding. The shock was too great, and the son passed away taking with him his parents’ dreams for him to pursue his education and become an officer.

Passing The son is laid to rest on the afternoon of the first day of Adha Eid… The family mourns and no one enjoys the holiday. The father recounts how everyone stood by him and tended to his needs, especially the people of Ahmadi City where they lived and members of the Interior Ministry. Also, he spoke of the youth who grew up with Ahmad and the many calls he received from abroad. The pain hit them all, for Ahmad was a peaceful person who was always ready to help, a good student, a diligent worker. On his first day at work, Ahmad

and his colleagues were able to bust a group of drug dealers. His friends like him being with them… The father chokes with tears for a son lost forever…

My Dear Ahmad The father, lost in grief, says, “My dear Ahmad gave his precious life away recklessly, and I say to all those reading this now – especially those who drive buggies – that they should learn a lesson from what happened to my son.” He tells of how he wrapped his son with the “bisht” at the cemetery and it became a symbol of sorrow instead of happiness for which it was intended. The father’s words were engraved in our hearts and we did not need to note

them on paper, and we asked ourselves: why don’t youth learn from these accidents? What is this obsession with speeding and recklessness? Why gamble with precious life? Why not think of


how this affects their loving parents and

families?

A Mother’s Heart

Many questions went through our minds,

but Ahmad’s father went back to telling

us about what Ahmad’s mother had to say

about her son: Ahmad felt something was

going to happen to him, because after he

took a shower he kissed his mother and

siblings then asked where his father was.

Mother: Your father is out.

Ahmad: When he comes back, please kiss

him on the head.

Mother: Ahmad, don’t go! (She knew

deep in her heart something was going to

happen.)

Ahmad: How do you expect me to stay?

My friends are waiting for me out in the

desert.

Ahmad left in his car, and when he got

to the desert he found his colleagues with

their buggies. Ahmad got on behind his

friend without putting on a helmet nor

wore protective clothing. They went off

into the night, and it was the beginning of

the end…

Father’s advice to his son:

You are a staff sergeant and must be a role model

for others. If you see youth driving buggies

you have to warn them against it, not drive one

yourself!

Father’s advice to families:- If you want to buy a buggy for your son then buy a shovel to dig his grave and prepare his coffin.- A father who wants his son’s interests would buy him a computer or enroll him in training courses.

Ahmad’s attributes:

- A good son to his parents.

- Ambitious and wanted to pursue his studies.

- Did not complain if he didn’t get what he

deserved.

- His friends felt safe when he was with them.

Father’s hopes:- I wish the Interior and Commerce Ministries would place conditions for selling buggies and for driving them to require a license.- I hope all youth learn from what happened to Ahmad.


Al-Mururiya (Traffic)

Monthly traffic awareness, cultural,

social, comprehensive magazine

Issue No. 4 (February 2007)

Issued byHigher Traffic Council

Editor in chiefColonel 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

1818

Speeding chooses “buggy” to

commit its Eid crime

First Aid

1414

Black box

analysis of accidents2020


Safet y First

F i r s t A i dF i r s t A i d

It has become normal for us to see traffic accidents on

the road, ones that cause material and human losses.

The common factor among all these accidents

is the number of people who crowd at the site of

the accident, which block traffic and prevent

ambulances from reaching the area. These often

attempt to help victims in a haphazard way, and

could in fact further harm the injured person more

than doing him or her good. In the coming lines,

we will fill you in on necessary emergency

tips, bearing in mind that we must not try to

do something we don’t know so as not to do

more harm than good.

What is first aid?First aid is emergency care given

immediately to an injured person

before the arrival of an ambulance.

The situation may require

improvising with

whatever equipment is

available in preparation


to moving the injured person

to the nearest clinic or hospital

to receive treatment from

specialists.

Purpose of first aid1- Save a person from immediate

danger (stop bleeding –

performing CPR – massaging

the heart – treating shock).

2- Preventing the occurrence of

side-effects such as wound

contamination through

sterilization and bandaging,

and preventing paralysis in

cases of backbone fractures through careful

movement of the injured person without

bending the back.

3- Providing means for transporting the injured

person to hospital by calling an ambulance

or other, or by summoning a doctor.

4- Preserving the life of the wounded person.

5- Preventing the condition of the wounded

person from deteriorating.

6- Help with healing.

7- Preventing the occurrence of other

accidents.

The number one aim should be to save the

injured person’s life and preserving it without

endangering our own lives.

The purpose of first aid is to minimize injury

and future disability. In serious cases, first aid

may be necessary to keep the person involved

in the accident alive.

Steps to takeResponsibilities of a person performing first

aid are as follows:

1 – Assessing the situation without endangering

yourself and controlling the situation.

2 – Diagnosing the case.

3 – Presenting immediate treatment while

bearing in mind the person could be suffering

from more than one injury and that some

people are in need of more attention than

others.

4 – Taking the injured person to the nearest

clinic, hospital, or home depending on

necessity, and responsibility ends once the

person is handed over to a doctor or nurse.

However, do not leave before giving all

necessary information to those caring for the

person and making sure that there is nothing

more you can do.

5 – Helping out only within your capacity of

knowledge.

6 – Calling the medical center nearest the site

of the accident.

7 – Helping take the injured person to the

nearest medical center.

8 – Securing the accident site to prevent further

collisions while waiting for the ambulance to

arrive or whilst carrying the injured person

to the vehicle.

To conclude, we call on our dear readers to stop

and help if they have the necessary experience

and knowledge, and to otherwise make room

for those who do to try to help in whatever way

they can.


Traffic Technology

Black boxBlack boxanalys i s o f acc identsana lys i s o f acc idents

Vehicles split, fly over barriers

on highways, break trees, become

distorted, parts fly everywhere

… accidents such as these can be

attributed to a number of reasons

related to the vehicle’s technical

inefficiency, exceeding speeding

limits, or lack of driving experience,

alongside others. These results in

serious injuries and death, as well as

family problems – in some cases, whole

families are killed in accidents.

Advanced car technology may provide

drivers with greater luxury and safety,

but also place accident analysts in a

predicament – the speed of the vehicle,

for instance, used to be determined by

skid marks on the tarmac, but new anti-

lock braking systems make this virtually

impossible, at least at present.

T h i s is why some car-makers are fitting

their cars with a system similar to the

“black box” used in airplanes (the box

is, in fact, orange but was dubbed black

because of the tragic incidents it is

often linked with).

In Germany, the black box was

tested in police cars, and accidents

for these cars dropped 20%.

The company manufacturing the

black box says safety systems may

be increased and could lead to the

development of better driving habits


Black boxanalys i s o f acc idents

because the driver is aware that

speed is being recorded at all times

and the box can give accurate data

on which party is responsible for the

accident should it occur. Others say,

however, that simply installing the

box would not be affective unless

recorded information is periodically

analyzed and drivers’ habits

are discussed

– this explains

why police

accidents dropped.

The black box records the last 30 seconds

before the occurrence of the accident, and

some companies succeeded in making

it record 12 unnatural

occurrences during driving.

The box’s price is around 700

euro, and according to the

German Car Union, making

its installation mandatory

would take years.

Meanwhile, experts working

in car emergency services

in the US said they were

close to making a black

box similar to that used in cars that

sent immediate signals to the

nearest emergency center with

information on the car’s speed,

number of passengers, whether

they were wearing seatbelts, as

well as the location of the accident. All

of this helps reduce the time it takes

for ambulances to reach the site of the

accident and stop traffic congestions.

Industrial countries are competing to

make transportation safer … so will we

make use of this to our benefit?


Major Factors ContributingMajor Factors Contributing to Traffic Accidentsto Traffic Accidents

((Part ThreePart Three))

In the previous two parts of this study, we concluded that implementing traffic safety measures and laws, coupled with analyzing traffic statistics, contributed greatly to reducing traffic accidents in many countries. Moreover, the study highlighted the role of the driver, the need to properly maintain vehicles, as well as the affects of road conditions, urbanization, and economic factors. In the final part of the study, we will present you with a traffic case study on the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One must note that in the 1970s, Saudi Arabia witnessed an economic spike accompanied by a great increase in car numbers, which brought about a rise in traffic accidents. Over the past three decades, some two million vehicles were involved in one million traffic accidents that claimed the lives of 75,000 people and injured some 650,000 others. Statistics show annual instantaneous traffic deaths in Saudi Arabia stands between 4,000 and 5,000 people. Health authorities estimate double this number if those that pass away

after being admitted to hospital are taken into account. Furthermore, traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia increase tremendously every year, which indicates a need to place traffic safety programs and take decisive measures. 13.7% of all deaths in Saudi Arabia in 2004 were traffic-related, with an estimated death and four injuries every hour. As for material loss, this stands at 4.7% of the GDP, a percentage that is much higher than that in most countries of the world.Statistics also show that 90% of all traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia resulted from vehicle collision into stationary solid items, making the driver the main cause of these accidents. Speeding remains the cause of 37% of all accidents, while 16% result from failing to abide by traffic signs. Drivers between the ages of 18 and 39 years accounted for 60% of those involved in accidents.

Improvement Programs

Saudi Arabia adopted a number of measures to

Study


Survey of Jeddah highlights size of traffic problem

reduce accidents such as periodic inspection, founding a national safety committee, encouraging research, and improving driving school programs. All of these, however, had limited affects and did not come as part of a set strategy based on a timed schedule, nor did they target a specific group. This in turn affected the efficiency of these standards in reducing traffic accidents.Thus, an annual study or report must be prepared to highlight the greatest daily traffic problems in each city so as to take necessary means to counter them. Such problems may include traffic congestion, accidents, improving public transportation, providing better school bus services, constructing more public car parks, as well as other social services.Road safety, as a problem, cannot be evaluated or monitored without an accurate data system on traffic accidents and their circumstances. Thus, each accident must be officially documented in an advanced data center created for this specific purpose. This may be used as a launch pad for

traffic safety research, offering an opportunity for placing national plans for reducing accidents.Education, awareness, and implementation

It is important to found a research center that conducts surveys to determine methods most suitable for raising traffic safety in Saudi Arabia. It must also explore implemented plans in other countries and adapt what best suits social and population structure, while pointing out specific social groups targeted by the program.Thus, Saudi Arabia introduced a new drivers’ learning program through private companies. These companies provide theoretical and applied lessons and have fully equipped lecture rooms, educational resources on road safety, as well as areas prepared for training. Moreover, authorities imposed slightly stricter conditions for issuing licenses and intensified media campaigns.

Periodic vehicle inspection

Several years ago, Saudi

Saudi Arabia adopts several measures to reduce accidents

All efforts mustconsolidate to reach solution


Study

Arabia implemented an experience unique to the Middle East, and that is to impose vehicle inspection to make sure cars are safe to be in the road. The aim is to raise the level of car maintenance, lengthen its life span, discovering problems before they become worse, and guarantee safety of road users.In recent years, vehicle inspection became no longer mandatory unless the vehicle license was being renewed or sold. The inspection itself is no longer comprehensive and is a routine measure.Accidents resulting from unexpected car problems in Arab countries stand at 10%, while those from human error or negligence exceed 67%. These numbers show how important car maintenance is.The case study showed 57% of surveyed drivers enrolled in universities and vocational colleges, including 19% state employees and 24% employed in the private sector, varied in their traffic awareness and levels of abidance to traffic laws. It proved the effectiveness of strict application of the law, as well as the important role of the media in spreading awareness.The same study showed youth were the most frequently involved in traffic accidents, and thus

media campaigns needed to be directed at them. Moreover, the human factor accounted for 62% of all traffic causes due to incorrect behavior – stopping, turning, and overtaking vehicles. Speeding accounted for 28.88%, and is linked to undisciplined behavior on the part of drivers and insufficient number of traffic patrols. Moreover, it noted the affect of the vehicle, road, and urban structure on accidents, as well as the need for a new road network in Jeddah.

Conclusion Inspection campaigns must be set up around the clock, speed must be monitored, and media awareness campaigns must be intensified. Goals and strategies must be clear to reduce traffic accidents. It is clear that many Saudi cities lack clear plans for public transportation, as well as shortage in speed limit and other traffic signs. Furthermore, there is a need for regulating urban development to avoid future traffic problems, while taking into consideration architectural planning that improved road safety and reduced congestions. Areas must be designated for pedestrians, and areas where

accidents repeatedly take place must be determined to study design problems, while bearing in mind the need for clear vision and good lighting.Our dear readers, we have presented you with this study because traffic problems in Gulf countries are similar. We wish you safety at all times. Source: Security Research MagazineResearch and Studies CenterKing Fahad Security CollegeVolume 14 – May 30, 2005

Must develop safety programs, increase awareness


Spot Light

An American study published in the early 1980s showed a single traffic-related injury required the efforts of 12 people at an average rate of six hours for 20 days. This means that effort for helping the injured person, removing and fixing the car, as well as following up on the accident and investigating it, and standing trial required an average of 1,440 hours. This time is enough to manufacture 15 medium-sized cars or producing canned food to sustain a family of three for two months!

Let us look at Kuwait: in year 2006 alone, 2,757,485 traffic tickets were issued. If we assume that at least four minutes of policeman’s time are needed, this means that 11,029,940 minutes were consumed. Calculate the time and you find it adds up to 21 years!

We still marvel at those who give no importance to traffic violations or accidents, simply because they have no respect for time. Time is of the essence and the above numbers show how time is being wasted when it should be used for the society’s development. But how can

we advance and develop if there are those who continue to play with time?

Yes, there are those who work and others who obstruct work. Imagine a car carrying three passengers breaks down in the middle of the road. The first starts to push the car out of the way, while the second redirects traffic and watches the road to prevent the first from being hurt, and the third opts to sit on the car’s bonnet to guide the first. Do you think the car would go anywhere? I will leave you to answer this question yourselves and to analyze characters of the three passengers. We are sure that you will come to realize how good intent is of no use if it is not coupled with action. What we suffer from is not the wasting of minutes, but of years.

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Issuing traffic fines is one of the most important duties of a police officer and comes to enforce the rule of law. This prerogative is given to law enforcers at all times of the day, even when they are not on duty. According to Article 46 of the traffic law, the fine is proof against the violator:“Information recorded in fines issued by police or traffic officers on crimes that come in violation of articles of this law or implemented decisions are considered proof unless the opposite is proven.”Fines are issued to all those who act in opposition of laws and regulations, whether they be drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or road and curb users. Here are some examples:Driver violations: speeding, running red traffic lights, reckless driving, and others.Passenger violations: standing while on public buses, sitting in cargo compartments, sitting or hanging on the exterior of the vehicle, and others.Pedestrian violations: crossing without the use of crossing lines, not adhering to traffic lights, and others.Other violations: Blocking the road to load or unload cargo without permission, unattended herds that wonder onto roads, and others.

Types of violations1 – Direct violations:These are issued in the presence of the

violator and are considered proof against him or her regardless of whether or not they sign it. This is considered deterrence against future violations and highlights the image of police officers. It is also considered a tool for spreading traffic awareness as many violate traffic laws out of ignorance.2 – Indirect violations:In cases where a violator escapes the police officer, runs a traffic light, or driving at high speed, an indirect fine is issued without the presence of the violator. This is used in limited cases because it is difficult to prove some violations, especially those related to safety and car maintenance such as engine problems or gas emissions and tinted windows that can be seen to by the diver before the car is inspected by authorities. In these cases, the fine is put aside and does not fulfill its purpose. MisconceptionsSome believe that enforcing traffic laws and issuing fines is a means to obtain money from drivers and road users to raise the state’s revenues, and this is baseless. The money is taken from those who have done wrong as a penalty, and is thus a form of achieving justice between violators and law-abiders.

Traffic Traffic FinesFines

Types and numbers of fines in 2006Total fines Direct fines Indirect fines

2,757,485 1,331,045 1,426,440

Direct fines for non-drivers in 2006

Pedestrian fines 24,449

Passengers hanging on vehicle’s exterior 10,111

Fines for animal herders 8

26

Legal Highlights

Issue NoÆ 4 February 2007


This page is dedicated to our dear readers’ questions and comments. We welcome your contributions, which can be sent to our e-mail or mailing address noted on the contents page.

27

E-m

ail:

thc@

moi

.gov

.kw

Issue NoÆ 4 February 2007

Q – Greetings. I would like to know rules for the scientific research contest. Thanks.- Dr. Ahmad Al-BaqliA – Al-Mururiya staff wishes you well. As to details of the contest’s rules, they are available only our website ([email protected]) and can be found under “events and activities”.

Q – I thank you for this publication. I live

in Ahmadi and work in Asima (capital) and

I have prepared the insurance papers for

my car. Can I have it inspected in Asima?

- Mohammad Abdulfattah

A – We thank you for your kind words.

The inspection centers in the different

governorates welcome all cars regardless

of their license plates, thus you can have

your car inspected in Asima.

Q – I purchased a tire from one of the shops

and after a week I discovered problems

with the balance, among other things. When

I returned to the shop I was not given a

satisfactory solution, so what do I do?

- Abu Suhail

A – Regarding your question, we suggest you

discuss the issue with the shop you bought the

tire from and if you are not satisfied then visit

the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s

consumer protection office and it will take

the necessary measures to solve the issue.

Q – Can an international driver’s license be

used in Kuwait and what are the conditions

for this?- Waleed Abu Baker

A – We thank you for your contribution.

Visitors, tourist, and foreigners in transit

can use an international or foreign driver’s

license in the country. Article 105 of the

traffic bylaws stipulate, however:

1 – Not changing the nature of the visit,

tourism, or transit nor exceeding its

designated period.

2 – The license must be valid.

3 – Insurance laws must apply.

Questions from HTC’s second traffic contest entitled

“Discipline Guarantees Safety”Traffic law defines a vehicle as:

a) Any means of transportation with wheels powered by mechanical or physical energy (human or animal).b) Any means of transportation with wheels and a chain powered by mechanical or physical energy (human or animal).

c) Any means of transportation or pull with wheels and a chain


When talking about the traffic issue, we must look at it as being one greater than a mere technical

case affiliated with the Interior Ministry. In fact, it must be dealt with through a wider framework

because it brings together legal, environmental, cultural, moral, and technical aspects. Hence, the

traffic crisis is not the result of negligence on the part of the Interior Ministry, nor are its negative

aspects limited to direct elements alone. When 40 lives on average are claimed every month by

traffic accidents, and when exhausts emit fumes that endanger the environment and people, and when

citizens and expatriates are late for work because of traffic congestions, this cannot be blamed on the

Interior Ministry alone. Thus, we must deal with this crisis as a national security issue because we,

as Kuwaitis, are being greatly affected. Those dying on the streets in one year from tragic accidents

exceed those killed during the invasion of Kuwait by the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein. We must

understand main problem is not just technical, but is more greatly one linked to how people and the

government perceive the issue.

Generally speaking, we can say that in order for technical aspects to contribute to solving the problem,

certain social values needed to be changed. For instance, we must view traffic fines as moral violations

in the first degree and not just a technical behavior - finding ways to cancel these fines must be strongly

condemned. Furthermore, the legislative and executive authorities must pass traffic laws, and quickly,

to put an end to the chronic problem. Of these legislations:

1 – Linking fines to car insurance, where insurance cost is raised based on the number and types of

traffic violation taking the form of a point system as implemented in some countries.

2 – Imposing harsher penalties for traffic violators and implementing them strictly by judicial and

executive authorities.

3 – Allocating a special budget for improving infrastructure based on a scheduled plan, thus expanding

roads and constructing alternative ones. Moreover, new public transportation networks can be

constructed (metros, trains) while encouraging car pooling.

4 – Imposing taxes on gas emissions and linking this to an environmental policy focusing on cleaning

air from dangerous fumes that threatened our health.

5 – Information technology has become an important factor in solving any problem and state bodies

must cooperate with the Traffic Department in developing a special traffic data system linked

directly to patrol vehicles.

6 – Increasing the number of cadres trained to deal with technical and human aspects of traffic

problems. For instance, dealing with a judge or doctor who slightly exceeds the speed limit due to

a work emergency must be dealt with in a different manner than a youth speeding for no apparent

reason. Also, dealing with men must be different than with women.

Finally, what I mentioned is being discussed by the Traffic Department, and listing them here only

as a reminder from a citizen who believes the traffic issue to be fundamental to Kuwait’s national

security and one that we must all help overcome.

OP-ED

A Case of National SecurityA Case of National SecurityBy Dr. Abdullah Yousif Sahar

[email protected]

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