Okaz/Saudi Gazette TAIF – The road that links the rural town of Kalakh, 70 km south of Taif, with Sudaira has witnessed several bloody accidents in the past. Residents living along the road have been calling for the establishment of a dual carriageway to facilitate the flow of traffic and reduce the rate of accidents on the road. [caption id="attachment_141801" align="alignright" width="169"] A recent accident on Kalakh-Sudaira road in which a 50-year-old man was killed.[/caption] However, the authorities have so far turned a deaf ear to the residents' demand to construct a road divided by a median and install safety signs along the road. Residents wonder why the Transport Ministry keeps mum in spite of the large number of people who have victims of accidents on the road. Fahd Al-Johani expressed his disappointment over the authorities' continuing negligence toward this busy road and called for transforming it into a divided highway as quickly as possible. He blamed the ministry for rising deaths and injuries caused by accidents on the road. Salim Al-Otaibi drew the authorities' attention toward the need to open a center of Saudi Red Crescent Authority along the road to treat accident victims and take them to hospitals. "The lack of a Red Crescent center has worsened the situation of accident victims," Al-Otaibi told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. "The closest Red Crescent center is located about 35 km away. The opening of a new center along the road would help save many lives." Mohammed Al-Nafiee urged the authorities to find a quick solution for growing accidents on Kalakh-Sudaira Road. "I have witnessed several accidents on this road. In the latest accident a 50-year-old man died when his pickup van collided head-on with a water tanker," Al-Nafiee said. He said the construction of a dual road would contribute to reducing accidents to a great extent. Khaled Al-Wudyani said he still remembers the death of a young relative in a traffic accident caused by a stray camel on the road. "The road should have fences on both sides to prevent animals from straying into the road and causing accidents," he added. He also urged the traffic police to keep a close watch on the road, which needs to be illuminated. Bandar Al-Nafiee spoke about the appalling number of accident cases reported by the Traffic Department and Red Crescent Authority on the road. "I hope the authorities would pay attention to this road and take necessary steps to reduce accidents on the road," he added. Okaz/Saudi Gazette contacted Emad Qadi, director of the Transport Department in Taif, for his comments but he did not pick up the phone.
