MADINA: Madina Traffic chief Muhammad Al-Shanbari has said that the traffic lights that have recently replaced roundabouts on a number of main thoroughfares in Madina were installed to reduce the number of motor accidents. Responding to complaints from the public that the lights have only served to increase congestion in the city, Al-Shanbari said the measure, particularly at the King Abdul Aziz roundabout, was “in the public interest”. “The Madina Traffic Department used to register approximately six accidents a day, costing SR2,500 averaging out at SR70, 000 a month,” he said. “That's a lot of money wasted, let alone the cost in injuries and lives.” He said that the traffic lights, which were introduced one week ago, had significantly reduced the number of accidents at the site. “Since they were installed we have registered only one accident, and that shows we made the right decision,” he said.
