wrongful wrongful oovertaking vertaking iis deadly”s deadly” · · 2008-05-18letters send to...

Issue No. 17 March 2008

“Wrongful overtaking is deadly”“Wrongful overtaking is deadly”

The 24th GCC Traffic WeekThe 24th GCC Traffic Week

“Wrongful “Wrongful overtaking overtaking is deadly”is deadly”

24th GCC Traffic Week

8 - 14 March 2008

Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 2008 3

Wrongful overtaking

Colonel Dr.Abdullah Mohammad Al-Traiji

E-mail: [email protected]

Traffic authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) celebrate this

month the 24th GCC Traffic Week under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking …

a killer.”

This important annual traffic event, which takes place in all GCC member

states, is an opportunity for exchanging experiences and views, and to conduct

visits in order to raise traffic awareness and place suitable solutions and

alternatives to traffic problems that all countries of the region are suffering

from.

Traffic-related activities are held for the public during this time, including

exhibitions, seminars, debates, and workshops, all of which shed light on the

importance of abiding by good traffic conduct in order to make roads safe.

The slogan was chosen this year to indicate the grave danger that comes

with overtaking other cars wrongfully, and the law regulates this process in a

way that guarantees safety on the road. Improper overtaking of other cars can

actually be deadly, especially on highways or on two-way roads, and this is

indicated by statistics and studies.

On this occasion, we would like to welcome all GCC delegations participating

in our celebrations of this week and wish them a pleasant stay in Kuwait.

We also hope that the message of this traffic week is conveyed to road users

and that they will abide by proper driving conduct. We would also like to

reaffirm the importance of year-round traffic awareness campaigns, because

we are all required to maintain the secure roads for ourselves and others at all

times by observing laws and regulations.

Issue No.17 - March 20084

Al-Mururiya (Traffic)

Monthly traffic awareness, cultural,

social, comprehensive magazine

Issue No. 17 (March 2008)

Issued by

Higher Traffic Council

Editor in chief

Colonel Dr. Abdullah M. Al-Traiji

Deputy Editor in chief

Dr. Abdullah I. Al-Turaif

Managing Editor

Colonel Rabee’a M. Al-Mutairi

Executive Editor

Adel Bader Botaiban

English Translation & Editing

Eman Mohammad Al-Awadhi

Published articles reflect the

opinions of their writers

and do not necessarily

represent the views of the magazine

Contents In this Issue

“Wrongful overtaking is deadly”

The 24th GCC Traffic Week

Traffic File

Year after year, and a the same time, member states of the Gulf

Cooperation Council (GCC) mark the unified traffic week, which

is being held this year under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking is

deadly.” During the event, traffic delegations exchange visits to gain

experience, share information, and stay updated on traffic issues. Al-

Mururiya covered the event, and here are some of the activities of

the visiting delegations.


Safety First

Microor-

ganisms

in cars

cause

allergiesCleaning a vehicle’s interior of dust is no longer done out of pampering, but has become a serious requirement for the safety of the driver and passengers. Studies conducted by the German Environmental Analysis Union indicated that accumulating dust inside the car, and especially on the upholstery, allows for the multiplication of microorganisms that live on it. This can cause allergies for passengers. Similar studies conducted in the US and Brazil reached the

same conclusion.

Velvet upholstery and moths

When talking about the causes of allergies inside the car, the moth is an important perpetrator, according to Jurg Thomas, the German specialist in allergies. He says this insect finds the conditions inside the car optimum, because velvet us usually warm and damp.

8

16


Issue No.17 - March 2008 5

Letters send to

Editor - in - Chief

Address:

Higher Traffic Council

Kuwait - Shuwaikh B

Block 2 Street 20

Tel. : 484 7893 / 484 9857

Fax: 481 4356

P.O. Box: 8 Shamiya 71661 Kuwait

E-mail: [email protected]

In this IssueIn this Issue

Traffic News6

Legal Highlights26

Op-ed28

United National

Organized in implementation of UN General Assembly resolution

First UN Global Road Safety Week (1-2)Out of the keenness of the United National (UN)

and the World Health Organization (WHO) for

protecting road users and providing a safe traffic

environment, the First UN Global Road Safety

Week was held. Al-Mururiya, out of keenness

for raising traffic awareness, will shed light

on the UN’s role in organizing this event, its

objectives and main message. It will also provide

information on road injuries, as well as human

and material losses worldwide as a result of

traffic accidents.

Increasing efforts

The First UN Global Road Safety Week comes

in implementation of the UN General Assembly

resolution on improving safety on roads

worldwide. This resolution was the result of a

number of recommendations by the UN General

Assembly and WHO.

These efforts reflect the increasing interest

in standing up to road accidents on the part

of governments, health organizations and

development institutions around the world. The

safety of road users has become one of the most

complex social problems that the international

community suffers from as a whole.

Initiatives

The First UN Global Road Safety Week is

considered a historic event, aimed at curbing

traffic-related accidents through more advanced

methods.

Many initiatives were taken during the event

around the world at different levels, whether by

governments or non-governmental organizations,

the UN and other international agencies, and the

private sector, in order to make roads safer. The

event, celebrated around the world, is considered

the first of many efforts to increase safety in the

years to come.

Target audience

The First UN Global Road Safety Week dedicated

all efforts to youth because children and youth

account for 1.2 million of those killed on roads

annually. Statistics indicate that 40% of all of

those killed in road accidents are aged 25 or

below.

The idea of the event is to improve road safety,

and thus the sessions held on the sidelines

were useful to road users of all ages. Initiatives

included the prohibition of driving under the

influence of alcohol and speeding.

Objectives

The objective of the event is to protect road users

and provide the necessary safety procedures.

Thus, participants shed light on the event and

encouraged governments and civil societies to

take urgent steps toward raising awareness on

the impact of traffic-related injuries, especially

among youth, and to reaffirm the need for

Traffic Technology


A device with three eyes and a single leg!

What’s your favorite color?

Roads are governed by laws, three to be precise.

There are three colors at most intersections that

are observed by drivers and pedestrians alike.

The most revered is red, and the favorite in green

because it indicated freedom and allows for

saving time, while yellow offers the last change

before being subjugated to red. Between these

colors hangs the issue of life, which is endangered

if these signals are mixed up or misinterpreted.

So, what is the story behind this device with three

eyes and a single leg?

History of traffic lights

The first traffic light with red and green light was installed in front of the London Parliament in 1868. J.P. Knight, who was an expert in the railway signaling, designed this traffic light as a rather outmoded railway semaphore with two arms and two gas lamps - red and green.

A policeman would change the lights manually and the signaling served mainly for stopping traffic, to allow the pedestrians to cross the street. But the traffic light lasted for only a year. Then one of the lamps exploded and injured the policeman who was attending it.

A modern type of traffic light was introduced in 1914 in Cleveland in Ohio. It had red and green light and a warning sound signal, which was always set off when the lights were changing. Three-color traffic lights with red, green and yellow lights were installed in New York in 1918 and were attended by an assistant seated in a box high above the crossroad.

The French installed traffic lights in Paris in 1923

18

20



Traffic Study

Traffic light performance must be enhanced

Regulates traffic, but has impact on violations

Dr. Hamid Omar Al-Bar, a professor at theCollege of Engineering at King Abdulaziz University, says traffic lights – when properly used – largely contribute to regulating traffic, especially at intersections. The way in which these traffic lights work has evolved and so have their features. New systems have been developed to control timings and to select the right intervalsfor each intersection, thus coordinating between traffic lights and raising their efficiency and performance.This came in a research paper presented by the professor to the Second National Traffic SafetyConference held in Saudi Arabia under the slogan “Traffic lights and their impact on violations.”

Central control systems have proven efficiency; information must be made available, training a must

Traffic control

Dr. Al-Bar noted that traffic lights are considered

among the most important means to control traffic,

and can have a positive and negative impact on

the flow of cars because they help regulate the

movement of vehicles and pedestrians at crowded

intersections within a certain time interval, thus

allowing each director the right amount of time

to move. The flow of traffic may be obstructed or

hindered at intersections if standards for installing

and operating traffic lights are not properly

followed, and may even lead to more dangerous

accidents.

22

Traffic News Traffic News Traffic News TTraffic News

The Interior Ministry’s first man The Interior Ministry’s first man In an honorable initiative, Interior Minister Sheikh

Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah was driving along King

Fahad Highway with one of his guards when he saw a

driver with four children speeding. The minister asked

his guard to follow the driver and issue him with a

fine, and the driver was stopped, his license revoked,

and he was asked to follow the minister to Mina

Abdullah Police Station. At the station, the policemen

were surprised by the minister’s visit, and the driver

was penalized for speeding and reckless driving.

Traffic week reflects spirit ofTraffic week reflects spirit ofGulf cooperation Gulf cooperation

On the occasion of the GCC Traffic Week, which

reflects the ability of Gulf states to counter traffic

problems with strong will and through dialogue

and exchanging ideas, Interior Undersecretary

Lieutenant General Ahmad Al-Rujaib stressed

the importance of this annual event.

Upon receiving participating delegations,

he noted the great spirit of cooperation

and consolidation that this event reflected,

noting that it came as a result of constant

coordination and the keenness for countering

traffic challenges.

Issue No.17 - March 2008Issue No.17 - March 20086

s Traffic NewsTraffic News Traffic News

KD 5 fine for using mobile phone KD 5 fine for using mobile phone while driving without headsetwhile driving without headset

As of May 1, any driver using a mobile phone without

a handfree headset will be fined KD 5. This comes in

implementation of an order by Interior Minister Sheikh

Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. As stipulated in the order,

no driver is to hold a mobile phone while driving, and

thus it is acceptable to take calls using a headset.

The implementation of this order will be preceded

by an awareness campaign on the dangers of mobile

phone use while driving and the best ways to make

and take calls, such as parking to the right side of the

road or in parking areas so as to avoid blocking the

flow of traffic.

The fine has been set at KD 5, and in cases where the

fine is referred to court, the fine is hiked to KD 15. The

court has the authority to raise the fine if the violation

is repeated.

KISR thanks HTC KISR thanks HTC The Secretariat of the Higher Traffic Council (HTC) received a letter from Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Naji Al-Mutairi in which he expressed his deep appreciation for the council’s gift to the institute - a publication entitled “HTC ... Aspirations and Challenges.” The book documents activities of the council over two decades. The KISR chief thanked HTC employees for all their efforts, saying that the council helped raise social awareness on traffic-related issues. Al-Mutairi also expressed appreciation for HTC’s efforts in placing traffic plans and policies


“Wrongful overtaking “Wrongful overtaking is deadly”is deadly”

The 24th GCC Traffic The 24th GCC Traffic WeekWeek

Traffic File

Year after year, and a the same time, member states of the Gulf

Cooperation Council (GCC) mark the unified traffic week, which

is being held this year under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking is

deadly.” During the event, traffic delegations exchange visits to gain

experience, share information, and stay updated on traffic issues. Al-

Mururiya covered the event, and here are some of the activities of

the visiting delegations.


Major General Thabet Al-Muhanna: Goal is not to

write out tickets

Under the slogan “Wrongful overtaking is deadly,” activities

of the 24th GCC Traffic Week kicked off on March 8 at

The Avenues Mall. An exhibition on this occasion was

inaugurated by Assistant Interior Undersecretary for

Traffic Affairs Major General Thabet Al-Muhanna. In

a welcoming speech to participating delegations, he

indicated the scope of the problem and called for raising

traffic awareness among road users. He underscored that

such occasions were not aimed at writing out tickets, but

sought to spread awareness. Al-Muhanna, traffic officials

and visiting delegations toured the exhibition, which

included a pavilion for the Higher Traffic Council (HTC).

The assistant undersecretary lauded the publications of

HTC, which were in both Arabic and English. He stressed

the need to circulate these publications to as large a number

of people as possible, through distribution at colleges and

schools, among others. Al-Muhanna promised to remove

all obstacles in order to achieve this, and publications were

presented to the delegates, who expressed their appreciation

for the role played by HTC in spreading traffic awareness.

After the tour, the exhibition was opened to the public. The

HTC pavilion was popular with people of all ages.

Activities of the Traffic Week varied from field trips along

highways and roads to Al-Razi Orthopedic Hospital, as well

as a visit to traffic departments. On March 10, Al-Mururiya

went on a tour with the visiting delegations to the Traffic

Engineering and Operations Department (Control Room),

and the license plates factory. They were received by:

- Colonel Khalid Al-Faris

Director of the Traffic Engineering Department

- Eng. Mamdouh Al-Enizi

Head of the Central Control Unit

- Eng. Faris Al-Enizi


Engineering Unit

- Eng. Hessa Al-Mutairi

Engineering Unit

- Eng. Khalid Al-Shimmiri

Engineering Unit

- Eng. Abdullah Atch

Head of the Signs Unit

- Eng. Salem Al-Halwachi

Head of the Inspections Unit

- Eng. Waleed Al-Haidar

Head of the Engineering Unit

- Captain Nawaf

Operations

- Assistant Eng. Abdulraman Al-Risheedi

Cameras

Kingdom of Bahrain

Criminalizing use of mobile while

driving

During the tour, participating delegations

listened to an explanation about duties of

each department and unit and discussed

technical issues. The visited departments

included Traffic Engineering and Operations

Management.

Out of keenness for benefiting from the

opinion of the delegates on the Traffic Week,

we met with head of the Bahraini delegation

Lieutenant Abdullah Bubshait, who lauded

efforts of GCC traffic officials in curbing

accidents and human losses. He said that in

Bahrain, officials were keen on spreading

traffic awareness and amending laws in the

interest of road users. He noted the recent

law criminalizing the use of mobile phones


while driving, and the positive impact this had had. He

called on all road users to observe traffic laws because

they were placed for their safety in the first place.

United Arab Emirates

“Road Criminal” campaign had positive impact

Head of the UAE delegation, Lieutenant Ahmad Hamza

Ramadan, expressed his content with the exhibitions held

at malls on this occasion, saying that this allowed greater

contact with the public and better understanding of their

problems while raising general awareness on traffic issues.

On the slogan of the 24th GCC Traffic Week, he said it

did not only mean the overtaking of other vehicles, but

also driving on safety lanes, running red lights, and when

pedestrians failed to use the allocated zebra crossings.

Asked about the traffic situation in the UAE, he said traffic

issues were introduced as a compulsory subject at applied

colleges and awareness campaigns were held throughout


the year. The last of these was the “Road

Criminal” campaign, which he said involved

the broadcast of photos of road violators on

television, which was greatly effective. He

called on all road users to maintain their

cars, while placing emphasis on youth and

the protection of family members.

Sultanate of Oman

Traffic Safety Institute

Head of the Omani delegation, Lieutenant

Khamees Al-Amri,

said many traffic-

related deaths in the

GCC called for a

serious contemplation

of the dangers of

wrongful overtaking.

In Oman, he said

speed radars were set

up, and this led to a

significant drop in

accidents and resulting

deaths. Moreover, he

said the Traffic Safety

Institute was set up,

the only one in the Middle

East. This institute organizes

training courses, lectures and

workshops aimed at making

drivers more aware of traffic

issues. The traffic situation

in Oman is not very much

different than that in Kuwait

or the other GCC countries,

he noted, calling on road users

to drive carefully in order to

avoid accidents.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

6358 killed in traffic accidents

On his part, head of the Saudi delegation,

Lieutenant Awayed Al-Ruwaili, explained

that this year’s slogan indicated that any

wrongful overtaking or overlooking of

traffic laws and regulations could lead to


an accident, whether it be serious or slight.

Likewise, pedestrians bear a part of this

responsibility, because when they cross

roads at places other than zebra crossings,

they put themselves and others in danger.

He added that many misunderstood the

purpose of the Traffic Week, thinking that it

is merely to issue more tickets, when it is in

fact aimed at raising traffic awareness. He

said statistics for the previous year indicated

that in Saudi Arabia, there were 435,263

accidents that claimed the lives of 6,358

people and left 36,025 others injured.

Moreover, he said the kingdom tried hard

to provide the best road services, especially

during the Hajj and Ramadan periods. He

wished all road users safety.

Qatar

Harsher penalties lead to 25% drop in

violations, deaths

Meanwhile, head of the Qatari delegation

Lieutenant Mohammad Abbas Mirdas

spoke about the new traffic law in his

country. Penalties were largely tightened

after traffic authorities noticed that laws

and regulations were being overlooked

due to financial surplus, which required

an amendment of laws. He said excellent

results were realized despite the short period

of time since implementation. Accidents

and traffic-related deaths dropped by 25%.

Prior to the implementation of the law, an


awareness media campaign was launched.

As to the GCC Traffic Week slogan, he said

overtaking meant an imbalance at some

point, and this created a serious problem.

He lauded the exchange of visits by GCC

traffic officials, as it was a means to share

expertise and build on positive aspects. He

concluded by calling on road users to abide

by traffic rules and regulations because they

were only placed for their benefit.

Al-Razi Hospital

Many activities were held on the sidelines

of the GCC Traffic Week, including a visit

for the delegations to Al-Razi Orthopedic

Hospital. The members took note of cases

admitted for injuries suffered in traffic

accidents, including those in the Intensive

Care Unit. They presented flowers to the

patients and discussed how the accidents

occurred.

Learning to drive

Kuwait Motoring Company was a stop for

the delegations, who were briefed on how

people were trained to drive. They also

visited the driving arena.

Workshops

Workshops were an important part of the GCC

Traffic Week. Four workshops were held:


one for traffic directors that discussed issues

pertaining to the slogan; the second on traffic

engineering issues in which engineers took

part; a third on the national traffic strategy

held at Kuwait University; and the final one

dealt with traffic operations and control.

Marathon

The Police Sports Union also took part in

the activities of the GCC Traffic Week.

On March 13, the final day of the week, it

organized a marathon in which the sports

bodies of the army, police, and national

guard too part.

Conclusion

At the ceremony concluding the activities

of the GCC Traffic Week, Assistant Interior

Undersecretary for Traffic Affairs Major

General Thabet Al-Muhanna said the

event presented a qualitative leap in traffic

awareness and succeeded in making direct

contact with the public. He called for

preparing for next year’s vent with a new

vision and slogan.

He lauded the support of Interior Minister

Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and

Interior Undersecretary Lieutenant General

Ahmad Al-Rujaib. He said this year’s

slogan shed light on the fact that wrongful

overtaking contributed to a great percentage

of traffic accident, which in turn required

more awareness campaigns.



Safety First

Microor-Microor-

ganismsganisms

in cars in cars

cause cause

allergiesallergiesCleaning a vehicle’s interior of dust is no longer done out of pampering, but has become a serious requirement for the safety of the driver and passengers. Studies conducted by the German Environmental Analysis Union indicated that accumulating dust inside the car, and especially on the upholstery, allows for the multiplication of microorganisms that live on it. This can cause allergies for passengers. Similar studies conducted in the US and Brazil reached the

same conclusion.

Velvet upholstery and moths

When talking about the causes of allergies inside the car, the moth is an important perpetrator, according to Jurg Thomas, the German specialist in allergies. He says this insect finds the conditions inside the car optimum, because velvet us usually warm and damp.

Conditions are just right for these organisms to

multiply – they feed on the dead skin cells that

are shed from passengers. The steering wheel

alone has some 41,600 types of germs that come

from unwashed hands and food residue.

Symptoms

Specialist Anya Schwalwenburg of the German

Cardio Medicine Union says the allergy-causing

substance excreted by the moth can cause eye

redness and itching, nose itch or sneezing,

and can also lead to respiratory difficulties

such as asthma, thus distracting the driver and

contributing to accidents.

Seats

The moth settles inside the car within a few

months and it is difficult to prevent their

presence. Our advice is to have seats washed

regularly. However, even this can make moths

stick to the upholstery, making it difficult for the

vacuum to such them out. The best alternative is

to choose thick leather for the seats, making it

difficult for the organisms to penetrate them.



United National

18

Organized in implementation of UN General Assembly resolution

First UN Global Road First UN Global Road Safety Week Safety Week (1-2)(1-2)Out of the keenness of the United National (UN)

and the World Health Organization (WHO) for

protecting road users and providing a safe traffic

environment, the First UN Global Road Safety

Week was held. Al-Mururiya, out of keenness

for raising traffic awareness, will shed light

on the UN’s role in organizing this event, its

objectives and main message. It will also provide

information on road injuries, as well as human

and material losses worldwide as a result of

traffic accidents.

Increasing efforts

The First UN Global Road Safety Week comes

in implementation of the UN General Assembly

resolution on improving safety on roads

worldwide. This resolution was the result of a

number of recommendations by the UN General

Assembly and WHO.

These efforts reflect the increasing interest

in standing up to road accidents on the part

of governments, health organizations and

development institutions around the world. The

safety of road users has become one of the most

complex social problems that the international

community suffers from as a whole.

Initiatives

The First UN Global Road Safety Week is

considered a historic event, aimed at curbing

traffic-related accidents through more advanced

methods.

Many initiatives were taken during the event

around the world at different levels, whether by

governments or non-governmental organizations,

the UN and other international agencies, and the

private sector, in order to make roads safer. The

event, celebrated around the world, is considered

the first of many efforts to increase safety in the

years to come.

Target audience

The First UN Global Road Safety Week dedicated

all efforts to youth because children and youth

account for 1.2 million of those killed on roads

annually. Statistics indicate that 40% of all of

those killed in road accidents are aged 25 or

below.

The idea of the event is to improve road safety,

and thus the sessions held on the sidelines

were useful to road users of all ages. Initiatives

included the prohibition of driving under the

influence of alcohol and speeding.

Objectives

The objective of the event is to protect road users

and provide the necessary safety procedures.

Thus, participants shed light on the event and

encouraged governments and civil societies to

take urgent steps toward raising awareness on

the impact of traffic-related injuries, especially

among youth, and to reaffirm the need for


UN Secretary General: Road safety achieved through deliberate, studied efforts

Event calls for creating safer roads

highlighting measures that greatly

lessened risks of injury (helmets,

seatbelts, refraining from driving

under the influence of alcohol,

remaining within speeding limits,

regulating roads and infrastructure).

The implementation of the above is

an important step toward improving

health and wellness of road users.

Messages

The event affirmed that traffic

injuries were a vast global problem

that affected general health and

development. It is expected to increase

in the coming year, and could greatly

affect male youth, who are subjected

to traffic injuries three times greater

than females.

The event also indicated that

traffic accidents could be avoided

through properly dealing with

contributing factors mentions in the

event’s objectives, and working to

consolidate them. It also noted that

road safety could not be achieved

through happenstance, and thus a

distinguished plan had to be prepared

in order to achieve the desired

goals. There must exist cooperation

between the governments and people,

because cooperation is a prerequisite

for boosting national efforts for road

safety.

In the next issue, we will shed light

on some concerning statistics.

UN Secretary General’s message on the occasion of the First UN Global Road Safety

This First United Nations Global Road Safety Week -- dedicated to young road users -- is a platform for improving safety for the hundreds of millions of young people who travel the world’s roads every day.Since World Health Day 2004, and subsequent discussions in the United Nations General Assembly, Governments and their partners have paid increased attention to road safety. But there is still much progress to be made. Road traffic collisions kill nearly 1.2 million people worldwide every year, and injure millions more. They are the leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 24 years, with devastating impact on families and communities.Road traffic deaths and injuries also place an enormous strain on a country’s health care system, and on the national economy in general. In regions where young people constitute a major part of the population, the problem is even more acute. On average, road traffic injuries cost low- and middle-income countries between more than one percent of Gross National Product. For all these reasons, road traffic injuries are an important obstacle to development.Fortunately, there is a growing recognition that road traffic injuries can be prevented. A number of countries have shown that by taking action on drink-driving, speeding, use of helmets and seat-belts, and increasing the visibility of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, a significant number of lives can be saved and resources spared, even as motorization continues to rise. The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration has addressed these issues as priorities.Because prevention measures require political will and financial investments in efforts targeting young people, decisions to improve road safety need to be made at the highest levels of Government. Beyond government ministries of transport, health and education, many others have a role to play: parents and guardians, educators, community and business leaders, automobile associations, insurers and vehicle manufacturers, celebrities and the media, survivors of road traffic crashes and their families.Road safety will not happen by accident. Through the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety -- the key global event of the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week -- and hundreds of other events being hosted around the world, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Regional Commissions and their partners are giving a voice to young people. Let us listen to their advice. And let us improve safety on the world’s roads, for their sake and for ours.

Traffic Technology


A device with A device with three eyes and three eyes and a single leg!a single leg!

What’s your favorite color?

Roads are governed by laws, three to be precise.

There are three colors at most intersections that

are observed by drivers and pedestrians alike.

The most revered is red, and the favorite in green

because it indicated freedom and allows for

saving time, while yellow offers the last change

before being subjugated to red. Between these

colors hangs the issue of life, which is endangered

if these signals are mixed up or misinterpreted.

So, what is the story behind this device with three

eyes and a single leg?

History of traffic lights

The first traffic light with red and green light was installed in front of the London Parliament in 1868. J.P. Knight, who was an expert in the railway signaling, designed this traffic light as a rather outmoded railway semaphore with two arms and two gas lamps - red and green.

A policeman would change the lights manually and the signaling served mainly for stopping traffic, to allow the pedestrians to cross the street. But the traffic light lasted for only a year. Then one of the lamps exploded and injured the policeman who was attending it.

A modern type of traffic light was introduced in 1914 in Cleveland in Ohio. It had red and green light and a warning sound signal, which was always set off when the lights were changing. Three-color traffic lights with red, green and yellow lights were installed in New York in 1918 and were attended by an assistant seated in a box high above the crossroad.

The French installed traffic lights in Paris in 1923

تكنولوجيا مرورية


and completed them with a gong, which was there

to draw the drivers’ attention to the fact, that the

lights would be changed.

The semaphores came back to London in 1926.

All these traffic lights were still attended manually.

The first automatic traffic light could be seen in

Wolverhampton, England in 1927.

Football and signals

The idea of using red, yellow and green cards by

football referees was adopted from traffic lights.

Ken Aston was in charge of the referees at the 1966

World Cup. During England’s stormy quarter-

final against Argentina at Wembley, the visiting

captain, Antonio Rattin, refused to leave the field

after being sent off by the German referee, Rudolf

Kreitlein.

Aston ran on to the pitch and, in his schoolboy

Spanish, tried to persuade Rattin to depart so

the game could continue. Driving away from

the stadium later that day Aston began to ponder

the problem of how referees could make their

intentions clear to players without having to

speak the same language. At that same moment

he stopped at some traffic lights and saw the red,

amber and green. And that’s how the idea of using

colored cards was born.

Town removes traffic lights

The town of Bohmte in the German state of

Lower Saxony has gotten rid of its road signs

in a bid to cut accidents. Road signs have been

removed, sidewalks and asphalt were replaced by

cobblestones and cycle lanes and sidewalks are

now distinguished from the road only by color.

The idea is based on the European Union-supported

“Shared Space” concept of traffic management

developed by the Dutch traffic expert Hans

Monderman. According to the concept, road users

have to negotiate their behavior with each other,

rather than have it prescribed by rules -- the idea being

that people will pay more attention to what other road

users are doing and hence cause fewer accidents.


Traffic Study

Traffic light performance must be enhancedTraffic light performance must be enhanced

Regulates traffic, but has impact on violationsRegulates traffic, but has impact on violations

Dr. Hamid Omar Al-Bar, a professor at the College of Engineering at King Abdulaziz University, says traffic lights – when properly used – largely contribute to regulating traffic, especially at intersections. The way in which these traffic lights work has evolved and so have their features. New systems have been developed to control timings and to select the right intervals for each intersection, thus coordinating between traffic lights and raising their efficiency and performance.This came in a research paper presented by the professor to the Second National Traffic Safety Conference held in Saudi Arabia under the slogan “Traffic lights and their impact on violations.”

Central control systems have proven efficiency; information must be made available, training a must

Traffic control

Dr. Al-Bar noted that traffic lights are considered

among the most important means to control traffic,

and can have a positive and negative impact on

the flow of cars because they help regulate the

movement of vehicles and pedestrians at crowded

intersections within a certain time interval, thus

allowing each director the right amount of time

to move. The flow of traffic may be obstructed or

hindered at intersections if standards for installing

and operating traffic lights are not properly

followed, and may even lead to more dangerous

accidents.


He defines traffic lights as “traffic control devices

that are power-operated and instruct traffic to

move or stop consecutively.”

The researcher notes that previous studies indicate

that the percentage of pedestrians that violate

traffic lights at intersections is great when they

are held back at peak hours needlessly due to the

ineffective time interval set for the pedestrian

traffic light. The percentage of violators is

also large outside peak hours due to the short

operational intervals, compelling drivers to run

red lights.

Installation

The professor explains that the unified guide on

traffic control devices lists eight main conditions

based on which a traffic light is installed at an

intersection – if non apply, then the installation

of the traffic light will have a negative impact. Of

these negative impacts is the constant violation of


traffic laws (minimum traffic volume – constant

stopping – pedestrians – school zones – traffic

flow coordination – traffic accidents – regulating

the network).

The researcher stresses the importance of

programming a suitable interval and for drivers to

respect them. He notes that in many cases, traffic

lights (time intervals for green, yellow and red

lights) are not in proportion with the volume of

traffic. Traffic violations increase, for instance,

when a driver waits for a long time at the red

light when the lane with the green light is empty.

This encourages the driver to run the red light,

especially in an emergency. Also, having a long

interval for the yellow light leads to the running

of the red light.

Coordination and maintenance

He explains that coordinating traffic lights is most

important for improving traffic flow, especially

when lights are closer together or fall on the same

axis. Coordination may take place along this axis

or throughout the network of traffic lights on a

number of axes within a single area, such as the

city center where there are many traffic lights.

Operation must be adjustable according to traffic

volume, and thus intervals are changed based on

devices that detect and monitor traffic volume at

different points of the road network. These devices

collect data and transmit it to a central control

room where the optimum internals are selected

with the help of a computer program, and then is

sent to the traffic light operation cabin for interval

adjustment.

Dr. Al-Bar also stresses that failing to properly

maintain traffic signals or not operating them at full

efficiency can lead to running red lights. He notes

the importance of adhering to the maintenance

timetable and changing light bulbs in order to

avoid disrupting traffic flow at intersections,

which in turn causes accidents and traffic jams.

Survey

The researcher refers to a field study conducted

at intersections in Makkah, aimed at improving

traffic flow. It notes that there are 107 intersections

controlled by three types of devices, each with

advantages and disadvantages.

The study also proposes a project for improving

traffic flow in the city of Jeddah in terms of road

planning and traffic operation. The researcher

says that traffic light failure or inefficiency due to

lack of maintenance or needless installation can

raise costs of travel and transportation, increase

the need for maintenance, hike accidents and legal

consequences.

Dr. Al-Bar notes that there are only three official

channels responsible for placing traffic lights at

intersections, each within its jurisdiction. He says

that each body has prepared a technical guide on

the standards of traffic lights and other related

devices. He notes that the Interior Ministry’s

Traffic Department oversees all traffic lights in

the cities of the kingdom, while the Transportation

Ministry monitors the road networks it lays.

In an attempt to unify the body supervising traffic

lights, the National Traffic Safety Committee has

prepared a study for a unified guide that lists the

experiences of advanced countries and references

for the Engineering Department (responsible for

traffic lights) which indicated that overseeing

traffic lights is the responsibility of municipalities.

It also highlights the role of municipalities in the

development and planning of cities, as well as in

installing and operating traffic lights.

Opinions

The researcher prepared a survey of drivers

aimed at gaining insight on their opinions over

traffic lights in terms of need, time intervals,

maintenance, penalties and general features. The

poll includes a random population of people doing

paperwork at the licensing departments in Jeddah


and Makkah. The survey indicates the following:

1 – On whether there are sufficient traffic lights,

54.7% say yes, 30.3% say more are needed, while

15% say there are too many.

2 – As to the clarity of meaning of traffic lights,

71.5% say they are clear, while 28.5% say they

are not.

3 – As to location, 84.6% say it is clear and 25.4%

say the opposite.

4 – 49.5% say some traffic lights are confusing

and can lead to accidents or violations, while

50.5% say the opposite.

5 – 72.1% say traffic lights are in need of

maintenance, and 27.9% disagree.

6 – 79.5% are content with existing penalties,

while 25.5% say they are not satisfied with them.

7 – 81.1% say the implementation of penalty

regulations will reduce violations, while 18.9%

do not think so.

The survey points at a number of findings that

were studied and analyzed, leading to several

recommendations.

Findings

The researcher says lack of coordination between

traffic lights and failing to program suitable

time intervals based on factual elements related

to traffic flow can push some drivers to commit

violations and disrespect the law. He also stresses

the importance of maintenance of traffic lights

to avoid sudden breakdowns and confusion on

roads.

He notes that the growth in traffic flow in large

Saudi cities requires central control for operating

modern technology at intersections, thus reducing

waiting periods and improving the flow of traffic,

reflecting positively on the behavior of drivers

and their abidance by traffic regulations.

Recommendations

The researcher stresses the importance of placing

greater emphasis on improving the performance

of traffic lights, unifying their features, operating

the, based on modern studies, adopting a unified

operation guide, implementing central control

systems, and preparing the necessary workforce

and programs for future improvements.

He also calls for transferring full supervision of

traffic lights to main municipality council in major

Saudi cities, while increasing the monitoring of

traffic flow at intersections and highways provided

that this transmission takes place gradually.

Moreover, he calls for training local technicians

and engineers on designing, installing, operating

and maintaining traffic lights, as well as tasking

a specialized consultancy body with placing a

unified guide for traffic lights in the kingdom

that takes into account modern technologies and

requirements.

The researcher also notes the importance of

following up and activating ministerial orders

related to monitoring traffic lights, as well as

developing new supervision methods, while

making the society aware of this monitoring

through media channels.


Protection of road users, model driving affirmed in

article 35

Legal Highlights

Traffic law protects environment, Traffic law protects environment, maintains roadsmaintains roads

Traffic Law 67/76 and its further amendments

To further elaborate on penalties stipulated in Traffic Law 67/76 and its further amendments, we will discuss here articles 35 and 36, and provide simplified explanations.

Article 35

The article stipulates that without violation of the appointed treaty in this law or with any punishment more intense in other laws, a prison term not exceeding 15 days or pay a fine of no more than KD 25 or one of the previous punishments will be handed in the following cases:

1 – Driving a vehicle without the owners consent or knowledge.

2 – Driving a vehicle that has unclear license plates, or if the plate cannot be read, its place is changed, or if its share or color is altered.

3 – Driving a vehicle without a license o if the license is expired.

4 – Refusing to show the drivers license or any other licenses required by law to the police when asked to do so.

5 – Violating the conditions for length, width, weight and height for transportation vehicles.

6 – Driving a vehicle that emits thick smoke or bad smells, or produces noises.

7 – Using lights, loud speakers, horns or any other appliances that are not permitted by law, and these are seized and confiscated.

8 – Vandalizing traffic signs and lights, monitoring and traffic control devices, or changing them in any way or sticking posters on them.

9 – Driving a vehicle on pavements or pedestrian lanes, or parking there.

10 – Parking at night along highways or dark roads without flashing signals.

11 – Using headlights on high beam.

12 – Failing to follow road

lines and traffic signals.

13 – Circling or driving against traffic flow.

14 – Driving a vehicle without a valid insurance document.

15 – Failing to notify authorities of the change in address or reporting loss of license.

Article 36

The legislator found it sufficient to issue a fine for violations in this article and did not stipulate a prison term as in other articles. The fine, as a penalty, compels the violator to pay a sum of money to the State Treasury.

The penalty, in the modern criminal policy, is considered the main alternative to imprisonment, especially short prison terms, due to the added negative impact it would have on the violators.

The article states that, without violating the appointed rule of this law or any punishment more intense in any other law, a fine of KD 15 will be issued in the following cases:

1 – Taxi and public


Legislator issues fine but no prison term to avoid unnecessary damage to

accused


transportation vehicles violating the maximum number of passengers or refusing without an excuse to transport passengers or violating the applied charge.

2 – Leaving animals on public roads without a herdsman, or if the herdsman violates traffic rules or neglects to watch over the animals.

3 – Pedestrians and motorbikers who violate traffic rules.

4 – Driving an unlicensed vehicle or without having a drivers license.

5 – Driving below the minimum speeding limit if this results in obstructing traffic flow.

6 – Driving a vehicle without having on the necessary lights.

7 – Leaving the car by the side of the road carelessly.

8 – Failing to wear a seatbelt.

9 – Parking in places allocated for the handicapped.

10 – Passengers are found on the exterior of the vehicle.

11 – Driving a vehicle that lacks in any one of the safety features.

12 – Violating the instructions, directions or orders of traffic police personnel.

13 – Laminating vehicle windows.


People will remain people in all ages and locations and they will constantly need guidance and

awareness. After working for more than 30 years in the educational sector, the last position of which

was Director General of Religious Education, and in my current position as advisor to the Arab Towns

Organization’s director general, and through following up what is being published and broadcast in

the media in relations to traffic issues, I would like to emphasize the following points:

1 – Imposing traffic laws through raising awareness and to have a media address after every news

break, and on websites so as to reach out to people of all ages and nationalities, and to include all

languages spoken by expatriates. This will create a suitable platform for implementing traffic plans

and to stay in touch with the public. This will also help appease people’s worries regarding traffic

catastrophes that occur in even the furthest roads.

2 – Presenting a role model in implementing the philosophy of using the road as an educational tool

that starts at home ad school and other gathering places such as the diwaniyas, coffee shops and

forums for youth, expatriates and citizens. We lack greatly in this area, especially when it comes to

irresponsible groups that are too haughty or intentionally ignore traffic regulations. Also, driving

schools need to make sure that instructors do not covey the driving behaviors of their own countries,

and to instead instruct according to the local culture. Another concerning issue is when government

trucks carrying load scatter debris because the load is not properly covered.

3 – Car exhaust fumes smoke our roads and pollute our climate, safe from prosecution and penalties.

It has become a daily practice matched only by the use of mobile phones that has been known to

cause most of the catastrophic accidents that are claiming the loves of many every day. This comes

hand in hand with drivers giving up on the use of the most important guarantee of safety – the seat-

belt.

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Op-ed

People are PeoplePeople are People

By Mohammad Abdullah Al-Jassem Al-Saqer

Advisor to the Secretary General of the Arab Towns Organization

28 Issue No.17 - March 2008

wrongful wrongful oovertaking vertaking iis deadly”s deadly” · · 2008-05-18letters send to...

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