A traffic security officer in Yanbu checks the vehicles.

Traffic police in Jeddah launched a new project to ease congestion in the streets of Jeddah during Ramadan.

Maj. Gen. Waslallah Al-Harbi, head of traffic police in Jeddah, confirmed the police’s readiness to deal with traffic jams that worry city residents.

He told Arab News that his directorate introduced three plans to ease traffic jams in the city and said the new project relies on the rapid mobilization of trucks.

For the first time in Jeddah, 2,000 tow trucks have been engaged to help restore traffic flow. Tow trucks will arrive at any congested area or an accident site to clear the bottlenecks. Patrol vehicles will also be ready to help cars that stall on the street.

Al-Harbi admitted that the ongoing infrastructure projects, such as building bridges and underpasses, have contributed to traffic clogging at several places in the city.

The problem intensifies in Ramadan. It has come to be known as a difficult month for drivers. The accident rates during the holy month doubles.

Around 200 accidents were reported daily last Ramadan, the majority of which happened around the fast-breaking period as drivers rush to eat with their families.

Al-Harbi said that police are ready to deal with the increasing traffic in the city, especially on Madinah Road. This main artery of Jeddah has been burdened with three times more vehicles than it should, according to latest studies. Other streets in the city face similar bottlenecks as they were designed to cater to a lower volume of traffic.

Three traffic plans will be executed in the holy month. Around 1,900 officers will be deployed in the field as a part of these plans. Trained officers will rely on developed traffic skills to ease jams.

Traffic patrols will be doubled during evening hours to control the high traffic density at that time. “Patrols will observe street intersections at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz, Morabba, Sari, Quraish, Heraa, Al-Sabaeen, Al-Arbaeen and other streets as well as those around markets and shopping centers,” Al-Harbi said.

He warned drivers against breaking laws and obstructing traffic. “We won’t tolerate those who block traffic by parking in wrong areas,” he said.