Saudi Road Code: New regulations for building parking and pedestrian safety
The General Authority for Roads in Saudi Arabia announced the implementation of a set of mandatory regulations and requirements for the planning and design of parking areas for public and private buildings and facilities, based on the technical standards outlined in the Saudi Road Code. This strategic step comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance traffic safety levels and reduce the phenomenon of haphazard parking, which mars the urban landscape and obstructs traffic flow within cities.
Strategic context for standardization
The implementation of these regulations is part of the "Saudi Road Code," launched by the General Authority of Roads and Bridges to serve as the comprehensive technical and engineering reference for all entities responsible for the roads sector in the Kingdom, including ministries, regional municipalities, and development authorities. The code primarily aims to standardize specifications and standards to ensure the quality of infrastructure, as cities have previously suffered from discrepancies in technical specifications among different authorities. This step is a key pillar of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes quality of life and human safety.
Details of the new parking regulations
The new code emphasizes the need to study the actual parking requirements at targeted locations, with a particular focus on areas surrounding public transport stations to promote a culture of integrated transportation. The requirements include:
- Choosing strategic parking locations that do not cause traffic congestion or obstruct traffic flow on main roads.
- Designing entrances and exits that ensure clear visibility and prevent interference between vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
- Providing safe passageways that prevent pedestrians from having to cross highways or main roads in a way that endangers their lives.
Promoting safety and a sustainable environment
The new standards not only regulate vehicle traffic but also place "people" at the heart of urban design. The regulations mandate a completely safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists at points of contact with parking spaces. This approach is expected to contribute to reducing pedestrian and traffic accident rates within urban areas, positively impacting national public health and safety indicators.
Preparing for the future and the economic impact
Looking ahead, the Saudi Road Code incorporates sustainable environmental considerations in its requirements, in addition to establishing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate autonomous vehicles, thus confirming the Kingdom's readiness to adopt the latest global transportation technologies. Through these updated regulations, the General Authority for Roads aims to enhance the efficiency of the national road network, striving to achieve the ambitious strategic goal of ranking sixth globally in the road quality index by 2030. This will boost the investment appeal of Saudi cities and facilitate commercial and logistical activity.
