Saudi Traffic 2004 opens to highlight road safety

During the four-day show leading international, regional and local experts will discuss the worsening transport crisis in Saudi Arabia and showcase solutions to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused on the Kingdom's roads. It is estimated that of all the deaths that occur in Saudi's Ministry of Health hospitals, more than 80 per cent are due to road traffic accidents.

"In Saudi Arabia, as in much of the Middle East, the issue of traffic congestion, safety and management is key for governments," said Davyd Farrell, IIR Middle East. "Saudi Traffic 2004 is a forum for discussion and debate that will enable decision-makers in the Kingdom to formulate policies to deal with this important subject."

Improvements in the management of Saudi Arabia's roads are already underway. The Saudi Ministry of Transportation recently awarded a contract to construct two turnkey truck-weighing stations on two major highways.

House of Measurement Trading, a fully-owned subsidiary of Yousif Al Hamdan Trading Co., will build the fully-computerized truck weighing stations, as part of the ministry's drive to enforce the legal code for permissible truck weight, in order to protect the roads and pavements in Saudi against damage.

In another important development, the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) has ordered an 18-month project to analyse traffic on the capital's roads, with the aim of increasing efficiency and improving road safety.

The population of Riyadh is expected to pass ten million by 2020, which will have a significant impact on the road infrastructure in terms of congestion, traffic accidents and pollution. Dornier Consulting of Germany, in association with Saudi-based Omrania & Associates, will make recommendations on how Riyadh's roads can cope with the expected rise in the number of vehicles.

Saudi Traffic 2004 will consist of an exclusive two-day exhibition and a conference, and two days of workshops. Workshop topics include 'Conducting Pro-active Road Safety Audits' and 'Urban And Freeway Traffic Operation, Safety And Modelling'. Experts from the State of Victoria Roads Dept. in Australia and the Michael Baker Corp. in the United States will conduct these talks.

"The predicted population increase, and number of cars on Saudi's roads within the next 15 years, means now is the right time to address issues surrounding traffic management," added Farrell.

Organised by IIR, Saudi Traffic 2004 is the latest addition to the Gulf Traffic series of events, which also includes Smart Move and MENA Rail. Local authorities including the Ministry of Interior, Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) and Jeddah Municipality have also offered their support to the event. Zuhair Fayez, Saudi Consolidated Contracting Co., Shibh Al Jazira, Al Haramain, House of Measurement, Etisal, Gulf Factory for Traffic Lights, Al Bilad, Delmon and Reda National are just some of the reputed Saudi based companies which have confirmed their participation.

Lebanese companies ATT Group and Khatib & Alami will also be present, while international participation comes from Dornier Consulting (Germany), GEA and Electronique Controle Measure (France) and Wilbur Smith Assoc. (United States).