A Traffic Department officer handing over an awareness leaflet to a motorist.
On the occasion of Eid Al Adha, the General Directorate of Traffic has doubled its efforts to control traffic violations through deploying more traffic patrols in all areas of the country and working to educate drivers about the need of respecting traffic rules.
“The General Directorate of Traffic takes all necessary preparations to ensure smooth traffic during the Eid day, especially around commercial complexes and commercial streets,” said First Lieutenant Salem Mubarak Albuainain, Traffic Officer at the department.
Regarding preparations made by the Department, Albuainain said: “We use to manage such annual events therefore we have prepared a plan in advance for Eid. All patrols are ready and in these days our focus are on markets and commercial streets where more people visit for shopping purposes.”
Speaking to a local channel, he clarified that during first day of Eid Al Adha, the focus will be on Eid prayer grounds and mosques as well as streets leading to those venues so that the department could avert traffic jam.
“In the evening, we will have focus on markets, public parks and beaches because they receive more visitors.”
Regarding usual problems faced by traffic patrols during the days of Eid, he said that most of problems were related to traffic jam, but he said the department would intensify patrols and efforts around these areas which witness more traffic especially near of mosques and markets.
For the safety of children and pedestrians, he said, residential areas are also monitored. The department is making a lot of efforts to reduce run over accidents by raising awareness of pedestrians to cross roads only from designated places.
Albuainain pointed out that there are no Eid specific violations, but only general ones such as speaking on mobile phones while driving and overtaking from the right.
