Analysis of Road Accidents in Saudi Arabia

Abstract
This research paper gives an analysis of the situation of road accidents in Saudi Arabia.
Road transport is the most popular mode of transport in the world. Among the factors
popularizing this mode of transport is the reliability of road systems, its affordability to people,
and the convenience of using this mode of transport. Many parts of the world have been
advanced in this mode of transport. Improving road infrastructure is an input to the development
of an economy. However, there are negative impacts which are brought when utilizing this mode
of transport. Hence, it poses a collective responsibility, to aid in combating the carnages.
Averagely, 1.35 million people die in road accidents in the world. Statistically, this indicates that
almost 3300 people die daily from road accidents, with a good number of people who get injured
and disabled. This has been blamed by various predictable and unpredictable factors. Saudi
Arabia has been spending a lot on treating the causalities of road of accidents. It has been
discovered there are almost half a million crashes annually in Saudi Arabia, each resulting in a
number of deaths and maimed casualties. The year is yet to end, but there is a finding that
indicates that 7000 people have died from road accidents in Saudi Arabia. A report of statistics
by Arabia News in 2016 linked car accidents to many fatalities that resulted to deaths in Saudi
Arabia. This was an alarming trend which is devastating for its people, and a counter reaction is
thoughtful. The literature review undertaken in this proposal hinted the factors that are causes of
road carnage in Saudi Arabia. In the review, it was found that car accidents are a leading cause of
road accidents in Saudi Arabia. This has been stimulated by the increased attention that people
give to mobile phones and driving while drunk. This menace has largely resulted to most deaths
experienced in Saudi Arabia. Over 160000 cases of road accidents in Saudi Arabia have been

linked to the use of mobile phones, which depresses their concentration while driving. Besides, a
recent survey conducted by The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)
found that the use of safety seat belts and the airbags significantly reduced the number of traffic
deaths in Saudi Arabia. From the findings given in the literature review, they will give an alarm
to the governing bodies, contracted individuals, and the stakeholders in the transport industry, to
authorize potential remedies, which will help combat the problem.

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Introduction
Road transport is essential for the development of any economy. Building roads is
interlinking many parts of a nation, which facilitates the growth of the economy. The remote
regions are integrated to potential areas that are significant to contribute the overall production of
a nation. The popularization of this mode of transport has been propelled by the affordability of
the road transport services, availability of the modes of transport. There are many advantages
which are linked to the road infrastructure, which have definite benefits. Constructing of roads is
indispensable and vital for the evolution of any industry, social connectivity, prosperity of a
nation, and for the peace and serenity of a nation. Apart from that, there are other benefits such
as employment, technology improvement in the road transport industry, and necessitating
efficiency in movement from one place to another. The use of roads has increased mobility in
many nations, facilitating varied activities, which are an input to the economy. Hence, the road
transport industry has facilitated reduction of poverty in many nations. The legitimacy and the
indispensability of these systems have been instrumental to the general welfare of the nation.
These systems have been a gateway to avoid innumerable concepts, which are adaptable to
expand service delivery and improve the standards of living of any state. Nevertheless, this has
been limited by the frequent outcomes, which cause carnage to the people who utilize the roads.
Road transport has been widely mentioned to be the cause of frequent deaths. Though, it is a
valuable impute, road transport has been challenged by the recent statistics that lists this form of
transport as a major cause of deaths. According to the Global Status findings on road accidents in
2016, approximately 1.35 million people died from road accidents (Pal et al, 2019). Such a huge
number is alarming. In the statistics given by the report, the age group affected by the accidents