Roads Authority launches safe roads guide for Ramadan for the safety of pilgrims
The General Authority for Roads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the launch of a new awareness initiative entitled “Safe Roads Guide,” coinciding with the start of the holy month of Ramadan. This step comes as part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to raise the level of safety on the national road network and enhance traffic awareness among all segments of society, ensuring safe and smooth travel for those fasting and performing Umrah during the holy month.
The guide's contents and strategic objectives
The authority explained in its official statement that the new guide is not merely a guidebook, but a comprehensive reference containing a set of technical tips and guidelines for road users. The guide focuses specifically on challenges drivers may face during Ramadan, such as fatigue or driving during peak hours before Iftar. It also includes a detailed explanation of the meanings of warning and regulatory signs on roads, aiming to improve traffic literacy and enhance drivers' ability to navigate changing road conditions, thus directly contributing to a better quality of life.
Time context and the importance of timing
The launch of this guide is of paramount importance given the unique traffic patterns in the Kingdom during Ramadan. Highways, particularly those leading to the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, experience extremely high traffic volumes due to the influx of pilgrims performing Umrah. Furthermore, driving behavior within cities and between regions changes, necessitating intensified awareness campaigns to remind drivers of the importance of adhering to speed limits and taking sufficient rest before driving long distances – issues directly addressed in this guide.
The Authority's role and the objectives of Vision 2030
It is worth noting that the General Authority for Roads is the supervisory and regulatory body for the roads sector in the Kingdom, operating according to an ambitious national strategy aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Through its policies and regulations, the Authority strives to achieve significant advancements in safety and quality standards. The primary objectives of the roads sector revolve around achieving the Kingdom's ranking sixth globally in road quality, a goal that reflects the state's commitment to infrastructure development.
The Authority also has in mind a very important humanitarian and developmental goal, which is to reduce the death rates from traffic accidents to less than 5 cases per 100,000 people by 2030. The “Safe Roads Guide” initiative is an integral part of this integrated system that aims to save lives and property and raise the efficiency of the road network, which is the lifeblood of economic and social development in the country.
