Condition of vehicles in Saudi Arabia*

Saudi Arabia has experienced an enormous growth in its motorization rate since 1970, and there has been a resultant increase of nearly 600 percent in traffic fatalities. The fatality rate (per 100,000 vehicles) has been found to be at least three times higher than that of most developed countries. One of the factors which may be contributing to the serious accident problem in Saudi Arabia is the poor condition of some of the vehicles. The main goal of this study was to investigate the socioeconomic determinants of vehicle condition, using data gathered in Saudi Arabia. Detailed information on the condition of vehicles and the characteristics of drivers were collected by roadside surveys in the Eastern Province. The results from 508 surveys indicated that: 1. The condition of vehicles was three to four times as bad as in some other states. 2. There was a strong relationship between driver characteristics and vehicle condition. Drivers who were poor, uneducated, and drove without a license were more likely to have unsafe vehicles than their counterparts who were rich, educated and had driver's licenses. 3. On the average trucks and vehicles used for public transportation and the movement of goods, and vehicles owned by companies and the government, were in worse condition than other vehicles. 4. There were significant differences among certain makes of vehicles.