The General Authority for Roads issued a strongly worded warning regarding the dangers of encroaching on the fences of the highway and main road network in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressing that these actions not only represent a violation of public property, but also pose a direct threat to the lives of passers-by and the safety of vehicles.
Strict penalties to deter violators
The authority confirmed that deliberately cutting or damaging road fencing is a clear violation of the regulations and laws in force in the Kingdom. A fine of 50,000 Saudi Riyals for anyone found guilty of this act, in addition to obligating the perpetrator to bear all costs of repairing the damage caused to public property. The authority indicated that these measures aim to protect lives and property, as creating gaps in the fencing allows stray animals to enter the road right-of-way, causing horrific traffic accidents that are often fatal.
Context of the crisis: The danger of stray camels and the history of incidents
These warnings come within the context of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to reduce accidents caused by vehicles colliding with stray animals, particularly camels. Historically, highways traversing deserts have posed a significant danger due to camels crossing uncontrollably, resulting in substantial human and material losses over the past decades. Roadside fencing serves as the first line of defense against these animals accessing roadways, and any tampering with it revives this long-standing threat and undermines efforts to secure the roads.
Infrastructure and dedicated camel crossings
As part of its sustainable engineering solutions, the Authority explained that the Kingdom's road network is equipped with more than 50 dedicated camel crossings , designed and distributed based on studies of grazing routes and animal movement. It emphasized that adhering to these crossings is the only safe way for camels to cross between the two sides of the road without endangering the lives of travelers. The Authority called on camel owners to take responsibility and educate their employees on the importance of maintaining the fences and using only the official crossings.
Strategic impact and objectives of Vision 2030
The importance of these measures extends beyond immediate safety; they are closely linked to the strategic objectives of the road sector stemming from the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Kingdom aims to achieve sixth place globally in the road quality index and reduce the traffic fatality rate to less than 5 deaths per 100,000 people. Maintaining road infrastructure, including fencing and safety features (according to the IRAP classification), is a fundamental pillar for achieving these ambitious goals and enhancing the efficiency of the road network to meet increasing capacity.
Corporate social responsibility and communication channels
The authority concluded its statement by emphasizing that road safety is a shared responsibility between government agencies and members of the community. It urged everyone to cooperate and promptly report any observations or violations detected on the road network by contacting the unified call center (938) , in order to contribute to a safe traffic environment for all.
