Ibrahim Shehab Okaz/Saudi Gazette Jeddah — Driving in Jeddah is an adventure, especially since not all drivers are proficient. Residents breaking traffic laws in Jeddah is a natural phenomenon. No regard is given to traffic lights, whether they are red or green. Horns are sounded as soon as signals shift. Illegal turns from extreme right lanes to the left are a common scene. And to top it off, the offenders spew out verbal insults to anyone who would dare protest. Limousine drivers abruptly stop in the middle of the street at the sight of a potential customer without any regard to vehicles behind them. They have become common denominators in traffic accidents. The sight of the slightest accident invariably creates a traffic jam by other curious drivers. Adolescents drive recklessly and compete in drag racings; trucks speed along compact family cars during rush hours; and the right of way at roundabout is not respected. Director of Public Relations of Jeddah Traffic Police, Lt. Col. Zaid Al-Hamzi said that the traffic police will conduct a two-week campaign by enforcing field presence in roundabouts and streets. He added that there were 32,627 traffic violations in the ten day period from 02/02/1434H to 12/02/1434H.
