CAMEL OR HIGHWAY?

Camel-related motor vehicle collisions have claimed so many lives here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Statistics show that these collisions occur either during the early morning hours, or late at night on remote highways. Since camels cannot follow traffic rules and regulations, it is up to the motorists to do their part and drive defensively to avoid being a victim of a camel-related collision.

What came first, the camel or the highway? The answer is obvious: The camel of course! Camels have been roaming throughout the Kingdom for thousands of years, without restrictions or borders. With the increased number of vehicles and highway connecting cities throughout Saudi Arabia, the free movement of these animals is not only a danger to themselves, but to the many people that travel the Kingdom's roads.

While these magnificent creatures may appear to be harmless, in reality they can kill you if you collide with them. To ensure safety, it is encouraged to drive defensively should you come across a camel on the road. Follow strictly posted speed limits to help keep you safe on specific roads. Slow down when you see a camel in your path, giving the camel as wide a clearance as possible. The best defense is to maintain control of your vehicle, travel at a safe speed--below the speed limit.

Reference: Saudi-Aramco Panorama 2006 Edition

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

For all we know, driving is a full time job, and we must give it undivided attention. The first thing I tell a cab driver is to concentrate on safe driving and refrain from using his celfon, or I’ll shout stoppppp!!! and help myself out of the car immediately before anything happens.

My colleague will spend the next three months in the hospital, he lost his baby girl, his wife’s right arm was amputated, his two sons were miraculously uninjured, and the driver, who was his best friend, was killed instantly. All these happened so quickly, my friend couldn’t even recall anything at all. What caused the accident? His friend was speeding over the posted limit. Every hour of every day, on every mile of roadway, many drivers are ignoring legal speed limits, racing to tragedies like this one.

Too often there is difference between what we know and what we do. Our attitudes and emotions influence what we do, acting as filters so that our behavior does not always reflect what our rational mind would tell us is the correct action. We don’t do what we know is best for us. We know it is safer to wear seatbelts, but we don’t always do it. We know that following the speed limit is best for everyone on the road, but we don’t always do it. We know we should drive defensively and pass carefully, but we don’t always do it. Why? For some people it’s a feeling of being invulnerable. For others it amounts to feeling helpless. Then there is arrogance. And let us not forget impatience and its associate, anger.

Much too often, however, it takes stronger medicine: an accident involving family members or a close friend—or us. Unfortunately, however, this convincer may come too late. We, or someone we care about, may be seriously injured or even killed during the learning process.