RGA Workshop Highlights Importance Of Saudi Highway Code For Road Safety

The Roads General Authority (RGA) recently conducted a workshop on the Saudi Highway Code for representatives from various concerned entities. The primary goal was to emphasise the significance of a road code and the authority's role in ensuring adherence to it, as well as to disseminate its content.

The workshop also introduced plans for training courses aimed at employees in relevant entities. This initiative is part of the authority’s efforts to ensure that stakeholders fully understand the objectives of the Saudi Highway Code. The RGA highlighted that these training packages are being prepared to facilitate this understanding.

According to the RGA, the code will be rolled out in three phases. The first phase focuses on raising awareness and will continue until the end of 2024. The second phase, which will be mandatory for public entities, is set to begin early next year. The third phase, starting later, will make compliance mandatory for both public and private sectors.

The RGA stated that the workshop aimed to introduce the scope and objectives of the code. It also presented the training packages being prepared and explained the mechanism designed to activate the code. Additionally, it served as a platform to collect questions and feedback from participants.

The Saudi Highway Code consists of 25 volumes covering several key areas. These include road planning and preliminary studies; design, construction, and maintenance of roads, bridges, and tunnels; traffic engineering and road safety; environmental aspects of roads; and requirements for autonomous vehicles.

Unified Technical Reference

The RGA mentioned that the code would serve as a unified technical point of reference for all levels of road authorities in Saudi Arabia. It aims to achieve a minimum acceptable level of quality, safety, economic efficiency, environmental standards, and sustainability.

This comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of road infrastructure are covered, promoting better planning and execution across various projects within the Kingdom.

The authority noted that this initiative is crucial for maintaining high standards in road construction and maintenance while also addressing modern challenges such as autonomous vehicles.

By implementing these measures, Saudi Arabia aims to enhance its road infrastructure significantly while ensuring safety and sustainability for all users.

With inputs from SPA