JEDDAH: Drivers usually consider themselves safe on roads as long as they are following regulations concerning their style of driving, speed limits and laws regarding turns and red lights.
Truth be told they are not safe as long as they do not follow one simple rule i.e. wearing safety belts. According to experts, wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in a crash.
Malak Khayat, the Saudi founder of Belt.on, came up with an interesting idea to promote the use of seat belts and raise awareness about the importance of wearing seat belts while driving.
It offers customized leather belt cases that can be placed on seat belts.
Khayat also came up with a catchy slogan “Buckle up, someone loves you!” to prod people to think for their loved ones before putting their lives in harm’s way.
“It is a safe and trendy accessory that would hopefully encourage passengers to keep on their seatbelts,” Khayat told Arab News.
The idea came to her mind a year ago, when she witnessed a terrible road accident, in which the front seat passenger ejected through the car’s windscreen.
“It cost him his life. What if the passenger was buckled? His chances of survival would have increased, and it could even have saved his life.
“We hear such sad stories and witness heartbreaking road accidents. Law enforces the use of seat belts and a lot of awareness programs around the world emphasize the importance of wearing them. I wanted to promote their use, but in a trendy way, so that is how Belt.on started.”
At a presentation to the 2019 Traffic Safety Conference held in Riyadh in March, the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) revealed the number of deaths in the Kingdom had dropped from over 7,000 in 2017 to 6,025 in 2018, with traffic-related injuries down almost 10 percent to around 30,000.
The MoI has set a target to reduce road-related fatalities to eight per 100,000 as part of the government’s Vision 2030 program. Wearing seat belts is essential to hitting that target.
Belt.on’s embroidery can be made to almost any specification, with messages sewn in any language — recently the company even had an order for one in Armenian. They can also add logos or specific shapes, and there is almost no limit to the colors on offer.
“Safety is my No.1 concern, therefore, I aim to keep my customers safe yet trendy. Belt.on aims to raise awareness on safety as it encourages people to put on their seat belts in a cool way,” Khayat said.
Customers can place their orders via WhatsApp, or contact and keep up to date with Belt.On through Instagram (@belt.on).
Startup of the Week: Ensuring people’s safety on the road in a trendy way
Startup of the Week: Ensuring people’s safety on the road in a trendy way
- The MoI has set a target to reduce road-related fatalities to eight per 100,000 as part of the government’s Vision 2030 program
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief continues aid work in new year
- The work reflects Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment through KSrelief to help those most in need
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has continued its humanitarian work at the start of 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
In Syria, 892 families received food aid and health kits in the Afrin and Aleppo governorates of the war-torn country, benefiting 5,352 individuals.
The agency also distributed bags of flour, winter kits, and personal-care bags to 211 families in Syria’s Al-Rastan area, benefitting 968 individuals.
In Syria’s Rural Damascus governorate, KSrelief distributed bags of flour, food aid, personal-care bags, and shelter kits to 164 families.
In Pakistan, there were 2,821 food parcels, benefiting 18,638 people, distributed in the Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan areas of Punjab province, and the Hingol area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
KSrelief also distributed 1,082 clothing vouchers to families in Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan’s Amman, Zarqa and Balqa governorates.
Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
- Exhibition is homage to renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai
The much-anticipated “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition will be held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in JAX Diriyah from Jan. 15 to Feb. 8.
Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, the exhibition, ratified by the Kingdom’s Museums Commission, will showcase the works of the renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
It will highlight the history and evolution of manga, and provide a perspective on how Hokusai’s classical illustrations have influenced modern visual arts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Hokusai published his first collection of art in 1814, featuring sketches of “daily life, landscapes and whimsical creatures,” according to a post on X by the museum.
The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art aims to foster cultural exchange between local and international creators.
Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
- Warning of high waves along the Kingdom’s coastlines
RIYADH: Rain of varying intensities will fall over most parts of Saudi Arabia from Jan. 10 to 12, the National Center for Meteorology stated on Thursday.
In a weather bulletin, the NCM warned of downpours accompanied by winds of up to 60 kph, and the possibility of torrential rain and hail. High waves are expected along the nation’s coastlines.
The regions of Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, and Hail will have rainy conditions on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, rain is expected in the Tabuk and Madinah regions; on Saturday and Sunday in the Eastern Province, Asir and Jazan; and on Saturday in Qassim.
For the Riyadh and Al-Baha regions, rain is expected from Friday to Sunday.
The NCM urged the public to stay updated on the weather conditions in the Kingdom by checking the daily reports on its website, the Anwaa application, or its social media accounts.
Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Ahmed Al-Hababi, met Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Madiyar Menilbekov, in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss opportunities for cooperation and ways in which these might be enhanced to benefit mutual goals.
One of the topics was the Hadad Program, a leading initiative developed by the club with the aim of returning falcons to their natural habitats and saving the species from the threat of extinction.
Menilbekov praised the club for the important role it plays in enhancing falconry and preserving its cultural heritage.
The club said the meeting was part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships in keeping with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires
LOS ANGELES: Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, reaffirmed on Thursday the embassy’s commitment to the safety and security of Saudi citizens in Los Angeles and surrounding areas impacted by wildfires, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a statement, Princess Reema emphasized that the embassy and the consulate general were working tirelessly to support citizens affected by the fires.
She highlighted that ensuring their well-being remains a top priority for Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States.
She said the team was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to provide immediate assistance to those in need. The embassy and consulate were dedicated to ensuring the security and safety of all Saudi citizens in affected areas, she added.
The embassy and consulate have activated a round-the-clock response team to address concerns and offer necessary support, SPA added.
The wildfires in California have prompted widespread evacuations and caused significant disruptions in the Los Angeles area, with officials working to contain the blazes.
