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The Jeddah Traffic Department is in the process of re-installing digital timers at traffic lights at all main intersections of the city that are already provided with Saher system.

Zaid Al-Hamzi, official spokesman for the department, said the digital timers allow motorists to estimate the time between “green” and “red” lights. It also notifies drivers and pedestrians with the time remaining for the opening and closing of traffic lights.

He said the department has lately canceled the digital timers because of a technical malfunction in the system, but they are being rectified and will be installed soon.

He admitted that canceling the timers contributed to the rise in traffic violations by motorists, mostly because the motorists are confused about the time left to takeoff or stop, thus they fall victims to traffic cameras.

A number of motorists expressed resentment at the move by the traffic department to remove digital timers at all traffic lights and intersections. They told Arab News that the measurement puts them at the risk of committing more traffic violations without their knowing.

Faisal Al-Sharif said some main intersections in Jeddah already provided with Saher cameras lack the digital timer. “The timer allows drivers to know the time remaining before a green light turns to red, or vice versa,” he said. “Sometimes this is confusing, and other times the time left for drivers to pass through is not enough so his violation is spotted and recorded by Saher camera.”

Nawaf Al-Dubiyani said the Saher system at the intersections has further regulated the traffic and motorists, and contributed to the drop in traffic violations such as speeding or jumping the red light.

He wondered why Jeddah Traffic Department canceled the digital timers. “The timers must be re-installed soon at all traffic signals already provided with Saher system,” he said.

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