JEDDAH: Drivers of cabs, ride-sharing services and even private cars need to consider safety and the readiness of their vehicles before hitting the roads, as the Public Transport Authority (PTA) has started imposing fines on drivers violating its operating regulations.
Speaking to Arab News, PTA inspector Bakr Hawsawi said that the fines being imposed on violating drivers are harsh enough to make motorists stick to the rules and regulations that are made for the safety of both drivers and riders alike.
“We fine cab drivers having no meter installed with SR5,000 ($1,333), while a fine of SR500 will be imposed on drivers for not wearing their uniform,” the inspector said. He said that the same amount should be paid by drivers whose cars look unclean from the outside, or are found dirty on the inside.
Hawsawi noted that the absence or unclear top sign “Taxi Jeddah,” or “Taxi Riyadh” etc., can cost the driver SR1,000. He added that a similar amount could be imposed on taxi drivers whose vehicles have no front-seat company license information, while SR800 could be imposed in case the backseat company information is not there.
The official pointed out that the PTA has decided to impose a fine of SR500 for not having a first-aid kit or a fire extinguisher, or a hazard triangle. “Driving without these three accessories can expose the driver to a SR1,500 penalty,” he said.
The PTA has said on its website that many companies directing private car drivers via Internet applications to pick up service seekers are not complying with the requirements made by the PTA, such as making sure that the subscribing drivers working with those companies are all Saudi nationals. It added that the PTA would impose as much as SR5,000 on foreign taxi drivers with no license. Moreover, the companies which deal with expat drivers will also be fined for violating the authority’s rules of transporting passengers. It also added that the financial punishment is not everything, as services of the violators will be frozen before he is asked to leave the country, as coordinated with the relevant authorities.
SR500 fine for Saudi taxi drivers without uniform
SR500 fine for Saudi taxi drivers without uniform
Rebuilding lives: Saudi initiative gives fresh hope to amputees
- Baitureh Health Association has provided life-changing support to more than 1,000 people
- Prosthetic limbs can cost up to $76,000
MAKKAH: The Baitureh Health Association for the Care of Amputees has quickly become one of Saudi Arabia’s most impactful humanitarian initiatives, transforming support for people with lost limbs.
Established in 2020, the association deals with people’s physical, psychological and social needs and fills a long-standing gap in the national health system.
CEO Badr bin Alyan told Arab News that the initiative was created in response to a growing need, driven by amputations linked to accidents, blood disorders, occupational injuries and other causes.
Its operations were “based on service integration rather than fragmentation, enabling beneficiaries to return to their lives with confidence, ability and independence,” he said.
This holistic process covers everything from initial evaluations to psychological and physical rehabilitation, family support, prosthetic fitting and ongoing maintenance.
Its psychological support programs include group sessions led by certified mentors who have undergone similar experiences, as well as field visits to support patients before and after amputation.
More than 1,000 people across the Kingdom have so far benefitted from the association’s work, about 10 percent of them children, whom Alyan said were “the most sensitive and the most in need of intensive psychological and family support.”
Its specialist programs for children — My First Step and Therapeutic Entertainment — help young people adapt to prosthetics, overcome trauma and build confidence in a safe and supportive setting.
The association has completed more than 300 prosthetic fittings, including silicone cosmetic limbs, mechanical, hydraulic, electronic and 3D-printed models.
Alyan said the type of prosthetic selected depended on a number of factors, such as age, lifestyle, type of amputation, activity level and psychological readiness.
Children also have to undergo frequent adjustments to their new limbs to account for their growth.
Each prosthetic cost between SR20,000 ($5,300) and SR285,000, Alyan said.
The association funds its work through sponsorships, community contributions and strategic partnerships.
Despite its success, Alyan said there were still challenges to be faced, including the lack of a consolidated base for the provision of psychological support and therapy services and prosthetics development and maintenance.
There was also a shortage of local experts, he said.
In response, the association set up a rehabilitation center, which Alyan said would help to localize prosthetics manufacturing, reduce costs and accelerate fitting processes and create opportunities for local experts to develop their knowledge and experience.
But providing prosthetics was only part of the association’s work, he said.
“Rebuilding a human life is the deeper goal.”
