Over the next two months, the city of Dammam is preparing to launch a groundbreaking traffic project aimed at converting a number of its vital intersections into smart intersections that rely on the latest technologies. The goal is to reduce traffic accidents and achieve high flow in traffic movement that will be felt by both citizens and visitors alike.

This project represents the beginning of a series of upcoming development initiatives. Smart intersection systems will contribute to enhancing public safety by reducing reliance on human judgment.

This project is the result of cooperation between the Aramco Chair for Traffic Safety and the Traffic Safety Committee in the Eastern Province, where scientific studies are being converted into practical projects on the ground. This places Dammam at the forefront of cities adopting advanced intelligent transportation systems.

The project is based on a precise field study that identified the most dangerous locations in the road network and developed technical and engineering solutions to address them. The success of these initiatives depends on the speed of implementation and the integration of efforts between the relevant authorities.

Dammam

Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. Its modern history began in the 1920s when it was a small fishing village, but it expanded rapidly after the discovery of oil at the nearby Dammam Well No. 7 in 1938, which launched the kingdom’s first commercial oil field. Today, it is a bustling port city and part of the larger Dammam Metropolitan Area, which also includes Dhahran and Al Khobar.

Aramco Chair for Traffic Safety

The Aramco Chair for Traffic Safety is an academic research position established by Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian oil company, to promote and advance the study of road safety. It was created to address the significant societal challenge of traffic accidents through dedicated scientific research and the development of evidence-based safety programs. The initiative reflects a corporate social responsibility effort to improve public welfare and save lives within the communities where the company operates.

Traffic Safety Committee in the Eastern Province

The Traffic Safety Committee in the Eastern Province is a government body responsible for developing and implementing road safety initiatives and awareness campaigns. It was established to address the region’s specific traffic challenges and reduce accidents, working in coordination with various civic departments. Its history is tied to the province’s rapid development and the subsequent need to manage increasing vehicular traffic and ensure public safety.