Industry Investigation: Road Traffic Accidents in Saudi Arabia

This research paper provides a detailed analysis of road accidents in Saudi Arabia, examining the significant impact of road transport on the nation's economy and the alarming rise in traffic incidents. The study investigates the causes of these accidents, including factors such as drunk driving, mobile phone use, and inadequate road infrastructure, and highlights their devastating consequences, including loss of life, injuries, and substantial economic costs. The paper explores the financial burden on the government and families due to healthcare expenses and the loss of productive members of society. It emphasizes the need for collective efforts from the government, non-profit organizations, and individuals to address the problem and suggests potential remedies to enhance road safety and mitigate the negative impacts of road accidents in Saudi Arabia. The report also mentions about the spending of Saudi Arabia on road safety and the measures taken by the government to improve the road network.

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.

(Table of Contents)

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

is between the age brackets of five to twenty nine years. A hefty denunciation has been put on
pedestrians who don’t know how to use the roads, careless motorcyclists, and cyclists,
particularly experienced in the developing countries. This program launched by World Health
Organization aims to address the cumbersome outcomes and sound an alarm to wedge away the
destructiveness of road accidents.
Saudi Arabia is a nation in the Middle East, in the Asian continent (Cordesman, 2019).
Bounded by the benefits in this field of transport, Saudi Arabia has maximized its investments to
improve road connectivity. Being the stronghold of any state, the transport industry in Saudi
Arabia has been termed as a fundamental drive that facilitates the growth of the economy and for
social-cultural enhancement. The Kingdom has a road network of 68,000 kilometers, which
facilitates the movement of people and the transport of goods and services from one place to
another. A development of traffic regulations and traffic technologies that anchor the road
systems, have been pragmatic in this evolving sector that is emergent in Saudi Arabia. Recently,
the government in connection with the private alliances has been on the forefront to improve the
road network in the Kingdom. In a stated report to commission road projects in 2018 through a
private partnership, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has innovated ways of developing
significant measures to improve road network in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is working with
Bahrain to construct a regional road project, the King Hamad Causeway, which will link the two
countries. Upon completion, this project will link the King Fahd Causeway, expediting the
crossing of people who use vehicles and trains as modes of transport.
Also, through consultations the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has plans to build a causeway
that will link Africa through Egypt. According to the revenues allocated for road projects in the
month of July 2018, the Ministry of Transport had awarded $461.3 million to the construction of

23 new road projects. Six road projects were commissioned in Riyadh and seven in Makkah.
More projects constructed were expanded to Assir, Hail, Al Bahah, and Tabuk. Though there is
increased expansion of roads, the traffic in some places of town has saturated, which has been
marked by the increase in the use of motor vehicles. In an effort to assuage such road snags,
there is the commissioning of the Riyadh-Metro road project that will initially ferry 1.16 million
passengers daily and its further expansion will lead to the transport of 3.6 million on a daily
basis. Besides, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a new bus system that will be transporting 900,000
passengers in a day and it will act as a major link to the metro areas. This improved road
connectivity highlights the many benefits that road transport has to the economy. All the
stakeholders in the transport systems are important in this analysis.
Despite the significant strategies laid by the government through the support by the
private sector, these efforts have been short-lived by the increased cases of road accidents in
Saudi Arabia. The effects of road accidents have amounted to most deaths in Saudi Arabia.
Statistically, in 2016, 9000 cases in Saudi Arabia were linked to road accidents. In that statistical
year, there was an average of 25 deaths per day. In the current year, 7000 people have been
proved to succumb to death from road accidents. Though, the effects of road accidents have been
slightly lowered, the perennial impacts are still alarming. The statistics related to road accidents
have adversely deteriorated the lives of young people (Qubria, 2019). It has been found that road
accidents are costing KSA almost SR 87 billion on annual basis. According to the study carried
by King Abdulaziz University, 97 percent of casualties of road accidents required hospital
services. Averagely, each casualty was obligated to nursing services amounting to SR, 4200 and
for those in critical condition SR, 20200. Statistics designate the massive negative financial
misappropriations that have a bearing to the whole economy. Such financial budgets spends on

treating road accident casualties, can be channeled to significant productive sectors of the
economy. One will find most government hospitals with the capacities of injured people, some in
critical conditions. This indicates that a heavy spending to treat the casualties of road accidents is
rested upon the government. Since the private services are expensive, the government is
burdened when making an expenditure of treating the casualties.
Among the underlying reasons that prompted to this study is that the KSA is spending
huge finances to facilitate the welfare of these casualties (Quibria, 2019). For those who look out
for private services in hospitals to treat their injured relatives, families spent a lot reducing the
levels of their finances to unprecedented issues. The population that is unable to afford the
services; its dependence has been heaped on the government to provide facilities and implement
projects that address the needs of the people. This has been the foundation to the channeling of
heavy incomes to projects that do not have a return to the economy, instead of inputting the
funds to necessitate the construction of value-adding projects. The accidents reported have
affected the young population, who are the future of the economy. Some of the young people
have tender families which they are sole providers. The demise of such energetic and promising
individuals is an indication of a state that is wallowing in subtraction of people who will build
and hold the future of the Kingdom. As a result of these road accidents, there are rising cases of
poverty, increase in the number of orphans, and neglect in families.
Also, losing someone is not only a paternal tragedy, but also a loss to the society. For
instance, when the country loses expatriates in academic fields, government officers, and
students, it is a subtraction to the whole society. Such people have an immense contribution to
the welfare of the society, impacting various sectors of the social, political, and the economic
growth of any state. Many cases of road accidents in KSA have been linked to the carelessness

on the roads. Some the causes that lead to this careless demeanor are: drunk driving, using
phones while driving, and drug intoxication.
This alarming trend that poses a subtraction to the input that will enhance the
development in KSA should be adequately considered (Quibria, 2019). This problem can be
countered through collective efforts of the government, non-profit institutions, and the
individuals. Ways should be invented to combat such an alarming and depraved trend, which
signals a greater risk impacted to the economy of KSA. Such a Kingdom with improved
infrastructure, while on the other hand is experiencing alarming tendencies of road accidents,
raises concerns. All of these have been leveled to the ruling authorities, the individual road users,
and the stakeholders in the industry. In such an alarming rate, one can conclusively figure out
loopholes in the application of the efficient systems to aid traffic on the roads, lack of effective
traffic rules to stem the processes, and inadequate road infrastructures, to have contributed to the
road carnage. Though this problem has been heavily linked to the use of mobile phones while
driving, an addition of the various neglected measures significant measures contribute to such
instances.
Aims
In this research paper, the focus of this study is targeted to enhance safety when using
roads and point out fundamental information that can be relied upon when strategizing to
recommend improvements of the situation on the roads in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also,
this study aims to suggest constructive measures that are possible to enhance the safety and
prevent the loss of lives resulting from road accidents.

Sub-aims
 To account for all causes that result to road accidents in KSA.
 Analyze the impact that road accidents pose to the families and the state economy.
 Anchor the efforts to support the implementation of counteractive measures which will
act as a remedy to the perennial situation.
 To establish the loopholes which trigger the occurrences of road accidents that are
fundamental to the recommend substituted approaches, when dealing with the problem.
 Finally, this research proposal seeks to sound an alarm to the authorities and the
stakeholders in the road industry that will address the prevention of road carnages.
Literature Review
Sourced from the outraging statistics referenced from the compilations and reflections of
data from the various articles and study reports, designates that the cases of road accidents in the
kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been rampant. Reliable statistics indicate these cases are
alarming. This is a trend that is disturbing to such a Kingdom that has invested heavily in the
development of reliable road networks. This literature review is a compilation of dependable data
sourced from articles and investigative study reports, which indicate that careless driving, the
aftermaths of drug intoxication, coupled with extreme environmental factors, are a major
contribution to the causes of road accidents. A broad outline of the outcomes of road accidents
with a link to the economy development will be discussed. Needles to mention, there is an
elaboration of the recommendations which offer direction to the counter-bodies, to anchor the
efforts of reconstructing the systems.

 Causes of road accidents in KSA
According to the study report brought forth for consideration by The Saudi Standards,
Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), an estimation of the many cases resulting to road
accidents have linked to carelessness of road users. Also, form the conclusions made from
compiled article data and study reports highlighted the major factors that cause road accidents in
the KSA. Some of the specific factors which are essential to cause road accidents in KSA have
been described below.
 Driving while using the portable phones
The study found out that over 160000 cases of road accidents that occur annually are as a result
of using phones while driving. A decision was effected by the ruling authorities to ban the use of
such devices on the roads. With the help of the traffic regulators, the Kingdom has been effecting
the implementation of the ban (Lee et al, 2018). A crackdown of the defaulters has been
underway, in an effort to improve road safety in the Kingdom. A further step that will see the
defaulters getting fined when found guilty was established. Particularly, the Sound Gazette
mentioned that even touching the mobile device while driving on the road will be considered as a
breach of law. One is liable to a fine of $40 or SR150 when he or she has committed the first
offence. Furthermore, when one is found with the second offences, he or she gets fined $80 or
SR300. Also, one who fails to obey the ban risks to be arrested and to be judged to serve a jail-
term. Being considered as a major cause of death in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabia Directorate
of Traffic pointed the use of mobile phones while driving to be a leading cause that contributes
to road accidents in Saudi Arabia. Statistically, this has numerically contributed to the 78% of
most recorded road accidents in KSA.

 Careless driving by teenagers
Some of the cases found in the study attributed carelessness to the cumbersome outcomes of
improper road using. One will likely witness instances of teenagers who are over speeding on the
roads in the end they become the potentials to road accidents (Al Orf et al, 2018). This is another
factor that has contributed to the alarming cases of road accidents. The alarming statistics that
results to the deaths of many young people has been blamed on improper. This paper through
various referencing study materials established that improper driving was a major contribution to
the deaths of people in KSA. In this report, the government is making efforts to degenerate
further outcomes of this menace that is a subtraction to the general growth of the many
productive sectors of KSA. Another factor which results to careless driving is drunk driving.
This factor especially pushes one to lack full concentration while driving on the roads (Alahmari
et al, 2019). Any lack keenness and observance of traffic rules on the roads, is a danger that is a
potential to the occurrence of road accidents. Incessant and heavy drinking repulses the
functionality of the brains. As a result the person affected by the obscene tendencies, will likely
not function well while driving on the roads. In the research report, it was found that the
ignorance of traffic rules endangers the lives of people who are using the roads. Young people
whom adversely have been affected by the outcomes sound a thoughtful alarm to the nation. In
this research proposal an evaluation of the dangers that road accidents cause to the youths and
the economy at large has been discussed. Some of the activities that result to carelessness on the
roads have been assessed.
 The alarming trend and challenges to the economy.

This study found that the overall impacts to the economy caused by road accidents are
very alarming. An analysis of the perennial outcomes that result from road accidents has been
evaluated. From the statistics it has been deduced that people who are affected by these accidents
are the young people. KSA is at risk of losing its wealthy, energetic, and innovative youths who
are significant to propel the growth of the economy. It is an acute degeneration to the country,
when people who have an input to the society are cut short by the incessant cases of road
accidents (Albejaidi et al, 2018). An increased number of people who die and some, who are
injured, downgrade the productivity in KSA. It has been noted worldly that Saudi Arabia has
been recording high number of traffic accidents compared to the other countries of the world
(AlGhadouni et al, 2019). Also, the study found that road accidents have been potential to the
cause of trauma in the families and societies.

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