Traffic authorities in Jeddah will soon ban heavy trucks loaded with hazardous materials from entering the city due to the risks they pose to public safety, Jeddah Traffic Department spokesperson Gen. Zaid Al-Hamzi told Arab News on Wednesday.

Al-Hamzi said that the traffic department authorities will allocate alternative routes for trucks outside the city to eliminate the risks to smaller cars, adding that the heavily loaded trucks also damage the roads and infrastructure.

“Heavy trucks do not only endanger public safety but also cause huge congestions in the city,” Al-Hamzi said adding that the trucks would be provided with alternative routes outside the city’s premises.

Meanwhile, Jeddah’s residents applauded the traffic authorities’ plans to provide other routes for the truck and gas cylinder distributors which have plagued the city’s roads for a long time.

Hussein Al-Amoudi said that it was a smart move to take the trucks out of the city not only because they contributed to traffic congestion but also owing to the tons of cargo they carried such as oil and gas cylinders which could cause accidents, endangering the lives of citizens.