Manama: Fathers of underage motorists will face legal action under a new scheme in Saudi Arabia.
Penalties will henceforth be applied against underage motorists for driving without a licence and against their parents for their complacency and for not preventing them from driving, a traffic official told Saudi daily Okaz.
“The action against the teenage drivers for breaking the rules and causing accidents or damage will be extended to include the fathers for allowing their sons to drive and cause dangerous situations for all people,” Ebrahim Al Gahhas, the head of traffic in Taif, said, quoted by the daily on Saturday. “Everybody should be fully committed to respecting the law and this includes parents who have to be cautious and not allow their children to drive without a licence. Statistics indicate an increase in the number of accidents and in the jumping of red lines in Taif because of underage drivers,” he said.
Special cars dedicated to monitoring underage driving will be in constant contact with traffic patrols to report violations, he added.
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest traffic accident rates in the Arab world despite massive efforts by the authorities to limit violations through several deterrents and the promotion of a sound traffic culture.
Traffic authorities have introduced Al Saher system to check chaotic driving and monitor violations that include mainly running red lights. Under the system used mainly in large cities, drivers are immediately fined for breaking regulations with penalties increasing in case fines are not paid within a specific period of time.
The frequency of the fines has been a clear indication of the high level of violations committed on Saudi roads.
Faced with the tough penalties, some drivers have resorted to cheating to avoid being caught, mainly by covering the car licence plates.
However, the kingdom’s Grand Mufti has ruled out cheating attempts and said that the system had to be fully respected.
“Cheating is not permitted in Islam and drivers have to avoid it,” Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Al Shaikh said. “The system was set up to regulate traffic, help people and check reckless driving. It is not the nemesis of drivers and it exists to help and make life easier, not to hinder people or worsen their conditions. We see that it is positive, especially as it has imposed a speed limit,” he said.
