3 million traffic violations in 6 months in Kuwait, 93% of accidents due to driver inattention
In just 6 months more than 3 million traffic violations were reported across Kuwait endangering innocent lives, causing disruption in traffic and increase in accidents. More than 93% traffic accidents were caused by inattention while driving, while 7% attributed to other reasons.
Official statistics issued by the Ministry of Interior showed that the total number of speeding violations recorded in the country between January 1 and the end of last June in the six governorates exceeded 1.5 million violations.
Detailing further, the Ministry’s Traffic Planning and Research Department stated that more than 93 percent of the total traffic accidents during that period were caused by inattention while driving, while the remaining 7 percent were distributed among other reasons, indicating that the total violations during the first half of 2024 amounted to more than 3.1 million violations.
In this regard, the Director of the Traffic Awareness Department at the Ministry, Colonel Fahd Al-Essa, told the Kuwait News Agency today, Thursday, that one of the most important reasons for inattention while driving is the use of mobile phones, stressing that more than 30,000 violations of using the phone while driving were monitored during the first half of this year.
Colonel Al-Essa added that speeding ranks first in the number of violations. Moreover modern cameras that operate with Artificial Intelligence monitor violations of wearing seat belts and using mobile phones while driving with the aim of reducing traffic violations and preserving the safety of citizens and residents in the country. There are 252 cameras are distributed across the six governorates.
He stressed the need to fasten seat belts and not to speed or use the phone while driving. More importantly, also ensure that children occupy the back seats for their safety, and calling on drivers to maintain a safe distance to avoid collision when stopping suddenly.
Adding to this, the Assistant Director of the Traffic Awareness Department at the Ministry, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Bu Hassan, said that the Traffic Awareness Department in the Traffic Affairs and Operations Sector has undertaken to activate the role of traffic awareness in various visual, audio and print media and social media programs in this regard.
He stated further that the modern cameras aim to enhance the safety of road users by effectively monitoring violations in order to ensure full compliance with the traffic law.
Bu Hassan also stressed the importance of enhancing traffic culture among drivers and the need to adhere to traffic rules, wear seat belts, and avoid using the phone while driving to preserve their safety and the safety of road users.
In turn, the Director of the Medical Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Shatti, said that the number of road accident cases transported by ambulances during the period from January 1 to September 30 reached 7,774 cases.
Al-Shatti called on everyone to adhere to traffic procedures, not to use mobile phones, and to pay attention while driving in order to preserve lives and property.
