Camels straying on to highways major cause of accidents in Saudi Arabia
The municipal authorities called on camel owners to be more careful and ensure that the camels do not pose a threat to road users.
Abu Dhabi: Saudi authorities have confiscated stray camels in Rashidiya, Makkah, to stop road mishaps caused by these camels, Saudi media reported.
The municipal authorities called on camel owners to be more careful and ensure that the camels do not pose a threat to road users.
Officials said people can report violations by calling the toll free number 940 or the official websites of the municipalities to take action against the offenders.
In recent years, Saudi authorities have stepped up protection measures after a series of road mishaps blamed on stray camels. The accidents often occur when unattended camels cross highways.
In 2018, the Saudi government vowed heavy fines against owners of camels, who leave their animals in the vicinity of main roads, especially at night. Saudi authorities have also set up fences along the roads where stray animals pasture in an attempt to stop them from crossing the roads.
Camels were involved in more than 90 per cent of all traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia, according to a study by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
The remarkable figure is indicative of problems faced by the kingdom as it becomes more developed in cities while still attempting to maintain some traditions.
The Ministry of Transport was spending billions of riyals to reduce the number of camels straying onto roads, including building fences alongside highways, Arab News reported.
There were about 500,000 camels in the kingdom, the Arabic daily said. About 43 percent of them are in the capital Riyadh.
Some of the camel owners take them out to feed on wild trees in a desert patch and leave them alone to wander around.
