In Saudi Arabia, drivers violently attack speed radar controllers

Saudi Arabians like to drive fast – to the extent that some will physically attack those who try to slow them down.

The country’s speed camera system, installed a year and a half ago, is called “Saher.” It has sparked the ire of many drivers, who have been forced to slow down to under 80 km in urban centres and 140 km on highways, or face hefty fines. Some have taken their rage out on the cameras themselves, but more recently, infuriated drivers have started assaulting the employees of private companies who operate the camera system.

A video has surfaced of the most serious assault yet. According to the Saudi press, two weeks ago a man used a rifle to shoot a speed camera monitoring car, which burst into flames. The driver died.

Many Saher operators say they have been victims of physical attacks on the job, including stabbings. And they're at the end of their tether. On Wednesday, a dozen of these employees went to their bosses to denounce their working conditions, asking for better protection, social security benefits, and increased pay.

This story came to our attention thanks to one of our Observers in Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Alsaeedi.

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