Ruqaya Al-Huwairni
Perhaps the traffic police department should wake up from its deep sleep in the midst of the current traffic chaos that our streets are witnessing. I hope that the threat that erring drivers will have their licenses revoked is part of a new policy to implement traffic laws and regulations. Unfortunately, traffic police are not always around on busy streets to monitor the flow of cars, ensure passenger safety and pursue those who violate traffic laws, so how will they then revoke anyone’s license?
The Saher program has seen the amount of police officers on our streets fall, but despite its strictness, Saher has done little to combat the chaos on our streets. It only enforces traffic signals and speed limits, but traffic violations are not limited to these two, no matter how dangerous they may be. There are hundreds of cars on the streets that have old or completely erased license plates. Saher is useless against such cars. Where are the traffic police to confiscate the registration of such cars?
This is not to mention other violations, such as turning left from the far right lane, or blocking cars on the right from turning. There are also large trucks and service vehicles that use main roads and streets without following their scheduled times. I also see young children driving cars around our neighborhoods, which is very dangerous.
Talking about penalties and violations without implementing them weakens a system that should be one of our strongest. Breaking the law and violating regulations could lead to death or permanent injury. Those left with the consequences are the victims, who did not do anything wrong except to happen to pass by or stop at a street where a reckless driver decided not to respect the rules.
The general administration of traffic’s threat to revoke someone’s license or registration is not effective. Drivers know that years could go by without a police officer asking them for their registration or license. If there is a sudden checkpoint, officers are usually lenient, especially with vehicles that transport women. Why?
While we commend Saher’s success in disciplining reckless drivers, we hope that it can be installed everywhere to stop all careless drivers. We hope that someday we will actually see vehicles being confiscated, kept in custody, and sold at public auctions, while their owners are banned from using government services. We are horrified by reckless driving, tired of accidents and exhausted by street wars.
