Smart lighting on the migration route: an initiative to enhance pilgrim safety

The General Authority for Roads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched an innovative initiative called “Your Path is Light,” which aims to provide smart lighting on the Hijrah Road as part of its initiatives implemented during the 1447 AH Hajj season. This pioneering step seeks to enhance traffic safety and improve the experience of pilgrims by upgrading the infrastructure of roads leading to the holy sites. These efforts align with the leading religious and tourist status of Makkah and Madinah, and contribute effectively to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to attract 30 million Umrah pilgrims by 2030.

The historical and strategic importance of the Two Holy Mosques artery

The Hijrah Expressway, linking Mecca and Medina, is one of the most vital roads in Saudi Arabia and the entire Muslim world. Historically, this route represents an extension of the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra), imbuing it with profound spiritual and religious significance. Since its opening as a modern highway, it has become the main artery used by millions of pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors annually. Given its immense importance, the Saudi leadership is giving exceptional attention to developing this road and equipping it with the latest technologies to ensure smooth traffic flow and the safety of travelers around the clock.

Advanced technologies to provide smart lighting on the migration route

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) explained that the initiative relies on advanced lighting systems that add a refreshed visual dimension to the driving experience. The initiative included the installation of 16 laser devices emitting multi-colored overhead lights with a range of up to 2 kilometers, in addition to 1,110 solar-powered illuminated road markings (cat's eyes). These innovative lights contribute to stimulating driver alertness and reducing eye strain, drowsiness, and distractions, especially during long journeys at night, thus significantly reducing traffic accident rates.

Expected impact of the initiative locally and regionally

The results of this initiative are expected to positively impact traffic safety indicators, establishing a sustainable model for employing innovative engineering solutions to serve pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques. Locally, the initiative will contribute to reducing traffic accident rates and minimizing human and material losses, in addition to improving the urban and aesthetic landscape of the entrances to the Holy City. Regionally and internationally, the application of such advanced technologies reinforces the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leadership in crowd management and the development of smart road infrastructure, providing a model for other countries on how to harness technology to serve the transportation and religious tourism sectors.

Expanding engineering solutions and innovation

The authority indicated that it based its selection of areas for implementing the initiative on precise technical and operational criteria to ensure maximum impact. The current phase focuses on the Hijra Road linking Mecca and Medina, which experiences high traffic volume during the Hajj season. The authority confirmed that it is working to pilot the initiative as a prelude to expanding it to other roads once its objectives are met. The General Authority for Roads is developing research and practical experiments in its role as the government body overseeing and regulating the roads sector in the Kingdom, and in line with the objectives of the Roads Sector Program aimed at encouraging innovation, as this sector represents a fundamental and enabling pillar for the Hajj and Umrah sector.