A fine of 50,000 riyals for those who cut through road fences and for incidents involving stray animals

In a decisive move aimed at enhancing road safety in Saudi Arabia, the General Authority for Roads alarming statistics regarding traffic accidents caused by stray animals entering road boundaries outside urban areas. The Authority highlighted the scale of the challenge facing relevant authorities and issued a stern warning, announcing fines of up to 50,000 riyals for those involved in cutting through protective fencing, as part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and public property.

Accident statistics and the state of highways

The authority explained in its latest annual report that 426 traffic accidents directly caused by stray animals occurred on highways, resulting in tragic consequences: five deaths and 26 injuries of varying severity. While these figures represent a decrease compared to previous years, they still necessitate serious attention to strengthening adherence to safety regulations and the use of designated crossings designed according to the highest international engineering standards.

Geographical context and the importance of the protective fence

These measures are particularly important given the geographical nature of Saudi Arabia, where highway networks stretch for thousands of kilometers across vast desert and pastoral regions. Historically, the movement of camels and livestock along these roads has posed a significant challenge to traffic safety, especially at night. Therefore, the road fencing project is a crucial strategic solution for separating high-speed vehicular traffic from grazing areas. The fencing serves as the first line of defense against catastrophic accidents, which are often fatal due to the size of the animals and the speed of the vehicles.

Strict penalties and a regulatory mechanism for crossing

The authority issued a strong warning against tampering with roadside fencing, emphasizing that deliberately cutting it constitutes a clear violation of regulations and a crime against public safety, punishable by a fine of 50,000 riyals, in addition to requiring the offender to pay for all damages. Conversely, to protect the interests of livestock owners, the authority established a precise mechanism for camel crossings on single or unfenced roads. This mechanism allows owners to coordinate in advance with the 938 call center to determine a safe crossing time, stipulating that crossings must occur during daylight hours, in a single group, and under the direct supervision of a road monitor who will secure the site with warning cones.

Infrastructure and the goals of Vision 2030

The Authority reviewed its infrastructure dedicated to this purpose, noting that the Kingdom's road network currently includes 51 camel crossings, in addition to fencing 3,056 kilometers of highways. These efforts are fully aligned with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the fatality rate to less than 5 deaths per 100,000 people and improve road quality to reach sixth place globally by 2030. The network will also be covered by the international IRAP safety classification, thus enhancing the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents with a safe and reliable road network.