A Haj Committee meeting last Wednesday in Madina recommended that buses carrying pilgrims between Makkah and Madina be prohibited from departing after 11 P.M. in order to tackle the high rate of accidents which occur at night during the Haj season. The annual meeting to hear proposals for improvements to the quality of pilgrim services paid particular attention to the transportation of pilgrims between the holy shrines, and further recommended that a permanent schedule for pilgrim buses be put in place. Minister of Haj Fuad Al-Farsy said the recommendation would protect pilgrims and cited studies showing that most traffic accidents occur late at night at a time when drivers are tired and lose concentration. “The ministry is considering a proposal to assign two drivers working in shifts to each bus, a measure that would be of great help in ensuring the safety of pilgrims,” Al-Farsy added. Emir of Madina Prince Abdul Aziz called upon all bodies involved in the transportation of pilgrims to execute the recommendation in “spirit and letter”.
