MADINA: In just five months, the Saher traffic monitoring system has exceeded the results of 25 years of awarerness campaigns carried out by the Traffic Administration, said Brig. Siraj Kamal, Director of Traffic in Madina. “The campaigns did not help reduce activities carried out by violators, but in just a few months, Saher has succeeded in exposing them,” he said. Brigadier Kamal said the difference is plain to see. “I won't speak or refer to any statistics or figures, but I can say from my daily monitoring of roads and roundabouts that motorists have started complying with traffic rules,” he said. “In fact, people in Madina have noticed the great change that has happened in motorists' attitudes.” Expressing his discontent over comments attacking the Saher system, he said, “It should be understood that the Saher system has been made for the safety of road-users and also to reduce traffic accidents, which have claimed thousands of lives, even though we hear criticism that is not constructive from some people who don't realize that most of the advanced countries have had these systems for decades.” Brigadier Kamal reiterated that it is impossible for the operating company's staff to tamper with speed limits, which are fixed by the satellites, and said every thoroughfare has a fixed speed according to the type of road, its length and area. The introduction of the Saher system has been met with a wave of criticism, the latest of which was made by Dr. Talal Bakri, a member of the Shoura Council, who called for its termination because it was established and applied by a technical committee not specialized in making laws. He also raised the question of whether the system aims to enlighten people and protect lives or look for mistakes and collect money from people. Dr. Bakri added that the system has been introduced at a time when most roads lack guidance and speed
