Riyadh newspaper THE traffic police in Riyadh recently issued a new directive banning trucks from entering the city during day hours. Trucks are allowed only between 11 P.M. and 5 A.M. from Saturday until Wednesday. During weekends, the hours are flexible. This decision was unexpected, but it is a positive move that helped ease the flow of traffic inside the city and cut down the number of accidents. However, the decision forcing thousands of trucks to line up outside the city limits for long hours is not without its flaws. The biggest mistake committed by the traffic department is that it did not designate a specific place for trucks to wait until the ban is lifted. Secondly, restricting the entry of trucks into the city to certain hours has greatly damaged businesses as there is no other means to replenish stocks in various shopping outlets. As a result, the cost of transportation to Riyadh doubled with a subsequent increase in prices of consumer goods. Let us imagine a truck coming from Dammam to Riyadh carrying a cargo of building materials in the morning. The truck will have to wait outside the city until 11 at night. Is this is a practical decision? Definitely not. This decision disrupts construction activity as well as other businesses. No doubt, the decision was helpful in easing the traffic jams in the city to some extent, but at the same time it created a host of new problems, including a price rise. There can be several solutions, albeit short-term ones, to the current problem. To come with a permanent solution requires more time. One way to resolve the issue is to allow entry of trucks on alternate days. Another alternative is to designate specific roads for trucks to use. In any case, the period allowed for trucks to enter the city needs to be extended. Permanent solutions include building of another ring road and expanding some of the existing roads. It is needless to say that we want more roads even though it may cost a great deal. We need permanent solutions based on a clear vision to the city's traffic problems. __
