Jeddah-based Tajeer Company, an Islamic leasing specialist in several business sectors, has launched a major safe driving awareness for school students in Saudi Arabia.

Themed "safe driving", the campaign will run from April 3 to 14, which is expected to see participation from more than 4000 students.

The initiative aims to boost awareness among motorists on public roads and to enhance social responsibility sentiments, especially among youth who commits nearly 40 per cent of road accidents annually.

Anass Abu Dawood, director of activities at Jeddah Education indicated that the campaign, a private initiative, also aims to enhance cooperation between governmental and the private sector in order to enhance awareness among the society in general as such road accidents touch our daily life.

Abu Dawood added that road accidents in Saudi Arabia are attributed largely to traffic rules violations and highlighted the role of media in conveying the message and the mission to both individuals and families.

Omar Mohammed Hindi, CEO of Taajeer, said that as the government assumes a great role in this regard, the Saudi society in general must understand and play its role so as to create common ground in terms of discipline and cooperation including the positive attitude to such awareness campaigns.

“We at Taajeer in collaboration with the department of education and Jeddah traffic department are launching this campaign thus targeting it for students,” Hindi added.

Colonel Zaid Al Hamzi, public relation director at Jeddah Traffic, said that such seminar is designed to boost awareness among youth in relation to safe driving, avoiding accidents, the negative side of speed and the total impact of road accidents on the society, as well as the catastrophic results represented by loss of lives and property annually, hence costing us nearly SR13 billion ($3.46 billion).

Every 90 minutes one death occurs as a result of road accidents, and one disability every 15 minutes, he added. – TradeArabia News Service