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61,553 Seat belt and phone violations recorded in last quarter of 2024

The Director of the Coordination and Follow-up Department at the Traffic Affairs and Operations Sector at the Ministry of Interior, and Head of the Unified Gulf Traffic Week Activities Committee, Brigadier Mohammed Al-Subhan, revealed that a total of 61,553 violations for “not wearing a seat belt” and “using a mobile phone while driving” were recorded in the country during the last quarter of 2024.

This was announced during a lecture organized by the Unified Gulf Traffic Week Activities Committee in the lobby of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) today, Wednesday. The lecture included an explanation of the work of the 38th Unified Gulf Traffic Week Activities Committee, which is being held under the slogan “Driving without a Phone.”

During the lecture, Al-Subhan added that the number of traffic accidents in the country during 2024 reached 65,991, with 284 deaths. He noted that statistics from the administration revealed that 90% of these accidents were caused by inattention and distractions other than the road, while 10% were due to defects in the motor vehicle or issues with the road itself.

Al-Subhan explained that traffic accidents in the country resulted in the following deaths across various age groups:

  • 8 deaths in the age group from one month to nine years
  • 27 deaths in the 10 to 19 years group
  • 61 deaths in the 20 to 29 years group
  • 52 deaths in the 30 to 39 years group
  • 53 deaths in the 40 to 49 years group
  • 50 deaths in the 50 to 59 years group
  • 31 deaths in the age group over 60 years

Al-Subhan pointed out that these statistics reflect an increase in traffic violations and accidents over the past years, accompanied by a rise in violations and unsafe behaviors. He emphasized that it has become necessary to increase the penalties associated with these offenses, as this would help preserve the lives of road users and reduce the rate of violations committed by offenders.

Moreover, Al-Subhan stated that in 2024, the number of speeding violations amounted to 1,926,320, while violations for running a red light reached 174,793. Violations for not wearing a seat belt totaled 152,367, and violations for using a phone and not paying attention amounted to 79,519. Additionally, the number of violations for disturbing sounds was 27,163, followed by violations for recklessness, negligence, and neglect, which totaled 11,307.

Al-Subhan shared that in 2024, a total of 8,455 vehicles and 4,027 motorcycles were seized. He also explained the amendments made to the new traffic law, highlighting the financial fines imposed under the law, which are designed to deter law violators and reckless drivers.

In turn, the Assistant Director of the Traffic Awareness Department at the Ministry and a member of the Unified Gulf Traffic Week Activities Committee, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Bu Hassan, introduced the attendees to the various types of cameras present in the country’s road network. These included fixed and mobile traffic control cameras, traffic monitoring cameras, “point to point” cameras, phone cameras, and seat belt cameras.

Bu Hassan pointed out that the new law includes violations that cannot be settled, such as when a private legal person violates the provisions of the Traffic Law “without permission.” The fines for such violations range between 1,000 and 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

Furthermore, Bu Hassan stressed that under the new law, the fine for having a child under the age of ten in the front seats, not securing them in the back seats while driving, or leaving them without an adult accompanying them has increased from 5 Kuwaiti dinars under the previous law to 50 Kuwaiti dinars.

Bu Hassan reviewed video clips of traffic accidents in the country, highlighting their main causes. He also discussed the role of the central control room of the administration, which is responsible for monitoring roads, controlling intersection timings, tracking violators, and issuing indirect violations.

Importantly, Bu Hassan also introduced the attendees to the different types of traffic accidents and how to handle them. He discussed the role of the central control room at the General Traffic Department and explained the procedures of the Traffic Law and its amendments.



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