The only way to reduce traffic accidents is to raise public awareness about respecting traffic rules and the effect of accidents on the national economy. Brig. Muhammad Al-Qahtani, Director of the Jeddah Traffic DepartmentJEDDAH — The Jeddah Traffic Department has officially requested the removal of seven roundabouts in the city which it claims are causing traffic jams and bottlenecks, said Brig. Muhammad Al-Qahtani, Director of the Jeddah Traffic Department. Addressing a press conference here Monday, Al-Qahtani said the roundabouts are Dir Al-Jazirah, Al-Zahra, Al-Ibrah in Al-Mahjar, Souq Al-Adal, Al-Najoom, Al-Falah and King Fahd. He said these roundabouts, especially Al-Zahra and Dir Al-Jazirah, have the highest number of traffic accidents in Jeddah. The official said the ongoing projects in Jeddah have turned the coastal city into a giant construction site and have badly affected the flow of traffic, especially during peak hours. He said much of the new construction, including malls, has not followed regulations regarding traffic flow. He said that developers of sites larger than 5,000 sq. meters must conduct studies and follow regulations on traffic flow. “Regrettably, these rules are not thoroughly applied.” He said the only way to reduce traffic accidents is to raise public awareness about respecting traffic rules and the effect of accidents on the national economy. The media has a direct role to play in this regard. He said the Traffic Department conducted a comprehensive study in 2007 on the causes of traffic accidents and determined the “black spots” where most accidents occur. These include highways, dangerous intersections and some roundabouts. The Traffic Department has also created permanent and temporary checkpoints in these areas which have helped to reduce accidents. Al-Qahtani also highlighted the impact of traffic awareness campaigns on reducing accidents, the most recent being the Gulf Traffic Week which was held under the slogan, “Let's Work Together to Reduce Traffic Accidents”. __
