Q) What is the new traffic system "Saher"?
A)Saher is an automated system for control and management of traffic uses digital cameras network technology linked to the National Information Center at the Ministry of Interior. The system will be installed in several stages inside and outside the cities. On highways, cameras will be installed at fixed locations as well as on the vehicles of the Highway Security patrols.
Q) When it will be actually applied?
A) The system will be applied after the conclusion of a trial period, which will begin upon completing the planned awareness, press, and advertising campaigns that will run for 6 months staring from April 2009.
Q) What is the mechanism for the automated violation control?
A) Violations will be monitored around the clock by installing digital cameras that can get clear photos of licence plates of the violating vehicles while moving fast; it can capture all tracks at simultaneously. The photos of the violating vehicles (running a red light and over speeding) sent automatically to traffic violation process center, then after getting information about the vehicle's owner from the National Database, a traffic ticket is issued.
Q) What are the different means for sending traffic tickets to violators?
A) Traffic tickets will be registered automatically on the name of the car owner and sent to his mailing address registered at the National Information Center at the Ministry of Interior, thus, all citizens and residents must update their information (mobile phone and mailing address) at any of the Ministry of Interior sectors (Traffic – Civil affairs - Passport) in order to ensure that he receives the ticket within a month before it is multiplied to maximum limit.
Q) How traffic tickets are settled?
A) Tickets can be settled through SADAD system at the ATMs of all banks.
Q) How does a driver of rented car receive his ticket?
A) The car rent company notifies the General Director of Traffic of all information of the car driver at the time of violation.
Q) Where are the rights of the citizen in this new system?
A) The new system secure the rights of car drivers both citizens and residents through enabling them to use the road in the best possible way by applying of traffic safety rules and the provision of safe traffic environment for them and for their families, both while they are inside the car or while crossing the street. The new system, also ensures that the ticket will be issued for the violator who actually committed the violation, this means complete rights for all.
Q) Does this mean that mediation (wastah) will stay applicable, i.e. will there be influential people that can infiltrate the system and cancel certain tickets?
A) As we pointed out many times, under the new system violations will be automatically controlled and registered in the violator's file, which means that there will be no chance for human intervention to please one side or the another.
Q) Is there an awareness and educational plan for citizens and residents of this new system?
A) Yes, an awareness campaign will be launched to publicize the new system for a period of 6 months and ends before the end of 1430 H. This campaign is the biggest awareness campaign in the history of traffic in term of duration.
Q) What is the aim of this campaign, and how long will it take?
A) The objective of the awareness campaign for the new system is to inform motorists of citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia in different languages with the new system to control traffic violations including its main features for automatic monitoring of running a red light and over speeding violations, as well as a message to them that there are strict monitoring and automatic registration of violations without the interference from anyone which will encourage them to adhere to traffic rules and comply with the legal speed.
Q) Who are targeted by this system?
A) This system targets reckless drivers who are dangerous to the safety of others and their lives as well as our country's roads from all nationalities without distinction between nationalities.