Aramco Expats

Be Careful Out There! Thick Fog Causes Pileup

1. Pipeline
2. Saudi Aramco News
3. Dhahran Media

Author: Saudi Aramco News by Stephen L. Brundage
Released 26 November 2007

DHAHRAN, November 17, 2007 -- As the bus cleared the Dhahran Main Gate early Monday, its headlights bounced back in the thick fog that blanketed the morning — fog thick enough to condense on the highway, mixing with road film to create a continuous slick.

These scenes from the Nov. 12 multi-car pile-up show what can happen when drivers are careless.

The bus advanced down the highway toward the airport, when the windshield filled with a sea of red and flashing yellow lights, and traffic ground to a halt. For more than a kilometer, one side of the Abqaiq Highway was the scene of a colossal accident involving scores of vehicles — jackknifed trucks, crumpled buses, smashed and twisted cars pointed in every direction.

Hundreds of people fled vehicles and collected on the side of the highway. Traffic Police and Civil Defense authorities extinguished fires and rescued motorists trapped in vehicles. As is usually the case with such events, Saudi Aramco emergency services were providing support.

As is the case on any day around the Kingdom, Saudi Aramco vehicles were on the road. Executives traveling to the airport said they were impressed to see that so many company vehicles sat parked on the side of the road, flashers on with drivers awaiting safer circumstances.

“We saw a very bad accident this morning on the way caused by fog,” Khalid A. Al-Falih, executive vice president of Operations, told executives gathered at the Central Region Executive Management Safety Review later that day in Riyadh. “I was glad to hear that no employees were injured. I am confident that is due in part to the emphasis that we put on safety and defensive driving.”

Breakdowns in safety practices lead to injury and death. (Photo by Stephen L. Brundage)

Saudi Aramco teams with Traffic Police and municipalities to promote safety awareness throughout the Kingdom in addition to internal company activities and campaigns. Despite the risks associated with hydrocarbon production, motor vehicle operation remains the most dangerous thing that Saudi Aramco employees do.

“It goes to show that accidents are preventable,” Al-Falih said, referring to the many Saudi Aramco vehicles not involved in the crash. “I only hope that our employees are operating their own cars with the same care they demonstrate with ours.”

As the bus threaded its way through the incredible snarl, victims could be seen — men holding bandages on bleeding legs, litters being brought for those critically injured; a woman wept over a dazed motorist.

The bus stopped often, proceeding when it was safe and stopping when it wasn’t. The traffic soon cleared, and the bus continued. The sun was rising as it neared the airport, and the fog dissipated, the water evaporating off the road. In the space of a few minutes, the nightmarish conditions were gone, and the bus delivered its passengers without a scratch.

“Accidents are preventable,” Al-Falih said, “but it’s up to all of us to prevent them.”

Fog Cautions

Fog produces hazardous driving conditions: Visibility is reduced, and roads can become slippery. If the fog is extremely thick, the safest thing to do is pull over, turn on your hazard lights and wait for the fog to clear. However, if you must drive in low to moderate fog, follow these guidelines:

• Slow down.
• Don’t follow the vehicle in front of you too closely — you could be following them into danger.
• Turn on the defroster and fan to eliminate condensation inside the windows.
• Use the wipers to keep the windshield clear.
• Use headlights on low-beam or fog lights if your car is equipped with them.
• Do not use your hazard lights while driving.
• Rely on sound for traffic you cannot see: turn radio off and set fan on lowest level and, if possible, roll down your window.
• Exercise patience: don’t switch lanes unnecessarily and avoid sudden stops and turns.

Rainy-Weather Tips

Saudi Aramco Loss Prevention advises: Avoid sudden movements. Slippery roads greatly reduce traction. Any sudden movement, such as turning the wheel quickly, braking or rapid acceleration can cause your vehicle to skid or hydroplane.

If you do skid or hydroplane, correct the skid by turning your steering wheel gently but firmly in the direction the rear end of the vehicle is moving (the direction of the skid). Then, proceed normally. You should be able to regain control of your vehicle, but only if you are not traveling too fast.