SLASHING the fee for driver's licenses in the Kingdom from SR400 to SR150 is, on the surface, a good thing since given the rate of inflation and general rise in prices of just about everything these days, any way to live life a little more cheaply should be welcome. But the price of a driver's license is of secondary importance to making the roads of Saudi Arabia safer. We all know that there are countless drivers on the roads here driving without any license whatsoever. And there are plenty who have been pulled over by police only to be let go after some convoluted explanation on the part of the unlicensed driver. There is a dire need for a joint effort on the part of both law enforcement and road safety authorities to get Kingdom drivers to obey the laws of the road and reduce the astounding number of deaths that occur on account of traffic accidents every year. First of all, drivers' education should be offered as an elective course at all secondary schools in the Kingdom. It must be made a prerequisite for obtaining a driver's license. If a potential driver does not take the course in school, he must be required to take the course through either a government or private institution. Second, police must feel obligated to crack down on unlicensed drivers. Anyone receiving more than one summons for driving without a license should face serious consequences, which could include both a night in jail and a fine. The same should be done to those drivers who repeatedly ignore the rules of safe driving. Without a concerted effort, Saudi Arabia will continue to be home to some of the most dangerous roads in the world. __
