Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms in most Saudi regions until Thursday    U.S praises Saudi Arabia for hosting U.S - Russia talks in Riyadh    Energy minister: 5 Saudi renewable energy projects go operational in Egypt    Russia, US agree to resolve diplomatic issues, discuss Ukraine war in Riyadh talks    Turki Al-Sheikh: Visitors to Riyadh Season hit record number of 20 million    Al-Falih: Asia demonstrates strong investment interest in Saudi Arabia    Cabinet: Hosting US-Russia talks reemphasizes Saudi Arabia's commitment to global peace and security    Saudi Arabia affirms commitment to joint work toward building a future for GCC tourism    Al-Hada Road in Taif will reopen for traffic on Thursday    Israel keeps some troops in Lebanon after truce withdrawal deadline    'I was just in a plane crash': Witnesses recount escape in Toronto    Al Ahli defeat Al Gharafa to seal AFC Champions League Elite knockout berth    Al Nassr hold Persepolis to goalless draw, leaving Iranian side's knockout hopes in doubt    Saudi Prosthetic Limbs Center revives hope in the life of little Matilda    Spouse of Crown Prince launches Misk Heritage Museum 'Asaan' in Diriyah    Conclave and The Brutalist win big at the Baftas    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









Reckless driving leads to life threatening injuries
By Amal Al-Sibai
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 21 - 11 - 2011


Saudi Gazette
Speeding and reckless driving have ended the lives of many people in Saudi Arabia over the last 20 years, yet most drivers stubbornly refuse to release their push on the gas pedal.
The statistics on road safety in Saudi Arabia are grim and improvements are too slow. The General Directorate of Traffic stated in a report that an average of 17 residents in the Kingdom die in a road accident each day.
The World Health Organization found Saudi Arabia to have the world's highest number of deaths from road accidents and the victims are males aged between 16 to 36.
Over the past two decades, Saudi Arabia has recorded four million traffic accidents, which has led to 86,000 deaths, 611,000 severly injured of which 7 percent in permanent disabilities.
The major cause of traffic accidents in the Kingdom is speeding, which accounted for 42% of all reported traffic accidents, according to a study conducted by Eng.
Ali Saeed Al-Ghamdi at King Saud University. Almost a third of traffic accidents in Riyadh are due to drivers violating the traffic signals, closely followed by 18 percent people who take illegal U-turns.
Other dangerous driving activities include — sudden stops, speaking on the cell phone while driving, general disregard for safety signs and most importantly is the carelessness of using the seatbelts.
Less than two percent drivers involved in car accidents in Saudi Arabia wear their seatbelts, compared to 62 percent in the USA and 90 percent in Canada. Studies show that seatbelts can reduce the chance of death or serious injury from a car crash by almost half.
Another major problem is the number of minors found behind wheels in Saudi Arabia. It's a common phenomena to see children craning their necks to look ahead while driving. A study by the King Saud University showed seven percent teenage drivers were involved in accidents compared to 2.05 percent in the US in a year.
The government and the media have launched several campaigns to curb speeding and careless driving in the Kingdom, but have not acheived much success. More shocking reports reveal that Saher employees, who put a fine on drivers for violating traffic laws, have also been physically attacked.
Statistics also show that one out of every eight cases of traffic accidents worldwide, some form of physical disability occurs. In Saudi Arabia six out of eight accidents result in physical disability. This figure alone should be a wake-up call for all irresponsible drivers.
The Rehabilitation Hospital in King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh has launched an awareness campaign to show intermediate and high school students the dangers of traffic law violations.
Their slogan is ‘Wild driving is the leading cause of disability'.The team is inviting students from different schools to attend educational lectures and witness patients in hospitals, who are being treated for their physical disabilities that resulted from car accidents.
Some students also went ahead to personally meet the patients, who told them about their pain, injuries, psychological impact, and the challenges they suffer from their disabilities.
The Rehabilitation Hospital in King Fahad Medical City provides rehabilitative services for patients with spinal cord dysfunction, stroke, acquired brain injury, amputation, other neurological disorders and musculoskeletal conditions, along with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, swallowing therapy, and other nursing and medical support facilites. __


Clic here to read the story from its source.