Traffic safety winners driven to success

The 25 winners of the inaugural Traffic Safety Signature Program (TSSP) have been recognized, bringing to an end the landmark safe driving campaign.

The vice president of Safety and Industrial Security, Aali M. Al Zahrani, honored 10 of the winners at a pared down awards ceremony — in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award promotes defensive driving and encourages behavioral change. Overall, 25 winners were chosen, of which 15 were 30 years old and below, and 10 were older than 30 years.

One motor vehicle accident fatality is one too many.
— Aali M. Al Zahrani

Joharah M. Mulhem, a computer operating systems specialist with the Information Protection Department, initially felt hesitant about participating in the program.

Being one of the top 10 winners made her feel “overwhelmed,” especially since she only obtained her driving license in 2018 and had not driven before. 

Yousef H. Khuraim, a project engineer from the Industrial Security Support Department, said times have changed on the Kingdom’s roads.

“It’s not easy nowadays to have a clear record of traffic violations with improved technology,” he said. “Safety should be a lifestyle adopted by everyone.” 

Ahmed G. Al-Ghizzi, a petroleum scientist from the EXPEC Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC), initially felt confident participating in the awards. He was also motivated by safety talks and posters in his department.

“Defensive driving is a habit and a way of living that’s built over years,” he said.

Bashayer S. Mishari, a laboratory scientist from the Research and Development Center, noticed that she met the initial qualifications for the award, and decided to try her luck. She received the news on a business trip and felt “genuinely happy.”

Muhannad A. Mulla, an engineer with the Power Systems Engineering Department, expressed his gratitude for being one of the winners.

“I was surprised. I didn’t anticipate winning, especially seeing that it was Aramco wide, and the tests were somewhat challenging,” he said.

The top five departments, based on participation rates, were Power Systems Engineering, Industrial Training, the EXPEC ARC, North Area Industrial Security Operations, and Loss Prevention.

Handing out the awards, Al Zahrani reminded the small, physically distanced audience that traffic safety is a significant public health risk and emphasized the importance of road safety. 

“One motor vehicle accident fatality is one too many,” Al Zahrani said.

“We are determined to exert all necessary efforts to prevent the occurrence of motor vehicle accidents. Nothing hurts more than losing someone close in a tragic way like this,” he said.

The program director of the TSSP, Abdullah S. Al-Rajhi, said, “As a traffic safety expert, a critical role in enhancing traffic safety rests on road users. Around 93% of motor vehicle accidents are caused by poor driving behavior, which can be prevented.”

The 2019 winners were announced on Oct. 12, 2020. Enrollment for the 2020 program was launched on Jan. 11 and will run until Feb. 28, 2021. 

Process and eligibility for the TSSP Driving Excellence Program
• A valid Saudi driving license, insurance, periodic check-up, and registration of employee vehicle or the vehicle the employee is authorized to drive.
• A clear record of Aramco traffic violations and notifications, and government violations from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020.
• A valid Aramco Driving Intensive Program (DIP) e-Learning course, or a certificate of Qyadati program for light vehicles.
• Register and upload copies of the above requirements from Jan. 11 to Feb. 28, 2021, through the award registration link.
• Pass a theoretical and a practical test.