Motorists warned against attempts to dodge Saher
By ARAB NEWS
Published: Jul 19, 2010 23:43 Updated: Jul 19, 2010 23:43
RIYADH: Following reports of a huge decrease in the number of traffic violations and road accidents with the introduction of the Saher system in Riyadh, the city's traffic police have issued a warning that anyone caught using radar detectors to evade the new monitoring system would be severely punished.
Col. Abdul Rahman Al-Moqbil, director of traffic in Riyadh and chief of the Saher system, said anyone caught using such devices would be stringently punished, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported.
Al-Moqbil's warning follows online reports about the availability of a new device called Cobra 15-Band Radar that can detect speed cameras and police radars. The device, which costs SR1,200, can notify users about all types of highly advanced radars, including the ones used by police. The device is also undetectable.
Whenever we find someone guilty of using such devices, we will take strict punitive actions against them and hand over them to the concerned authorities for prosecution, he said.
We had discussed several possibilities and attempts to bypass Saher. Therefore, we introduced a highly advanced traffic violation monitoring system that reduces the chances of violations to the minimum.
Col. Al-Moqbil sought the support of members of the public to find those who use such devices. People who are determined to commit traffic violations intentionally will be dealt with firmly, he said.
Saher is a state-of-the-art traffic management system that can monitor vehicles and track them using license plate recognition technology. The system, which was initially introduced in Riyadh province, will cover other regions within a few months.
Under its first phase, traffic tickets are being issued to motorists who speed and run red lights. In its second phase, which will be launched at the beginning of Ramadan, tickets will be issued for not wearing seat belts, stopping at zebra crossings and turning off headlights.
The system has been instrumental in substantially bringing down the number of traffic violations in Riyadh.