Saudi Arabia has announced plans for 23 new road safety projects at an investment of SR2.2 billion ($585 million), said a report.

The government will be completing these major infrastructure projects in phases. In the first phase, the kingdom will implement a total of eight projects, covering more than 68,000 km across the kingdom at an investment of SR773 million ($206 million), reported Arab News.

The eight projects include the establishment of the National Road Safety Center, three “traffic safety equipment” projects, three “rumble strip” projects to alert motorists to changing road conditions, and the implementation of recommendations from last year’s Engineering and Consultancy Services Agreement.  The agreement identified a number of issues with the country’s road network, including accident black spots; reviewed the ministry’s traffic control centres; analysed accident reports; and modernised the ministry’s safety department documentation and policies, it stated.

These are part of the Ministry of Transport’s contribution to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, it stated.

In  Phase Two, the ministry will implement a further 15 projects over the next three years, all aimed at reducing the number of accidents and casualties on the kingdom’s roads, said the Arab News report.

It is estimated that traffic accidents cause material losses of SR4.4 billion every year. Later projects will include improved safety facilities at animal crossings, the installation of protective barriers for lampposts on some roads, improved intersections and junctions, and enhanced streetlighting around dangerous intersections, it added.