A recent traffic campaign by the Traffic and Operations sector of the General Directorate of Traffic led to the recording of 29,131 traffic law violations.
Expressing his anguish at the growing number of traffic accidents and increasing reckless driving among youth, Mishari Al-Adwani, a citizen, said that the traffic problem and the recklessness seen on the streets of Kuwait leads to nearly 500 road deaths annually. He said that this is a huge problem and called for tougher penalties for reckless drivers, including increasing fines and imprisoning law violators.
He demanded that cars found in violations should be impounded, regardless of its value, so as to serve as a lesson to others. He also called for imprisonment for reckless drivers, or the imprisonment of the guardian if the violator is a minor. He also expressed his disdain for guardians who give their children cars and allow them to drive without a license, with the excuse that “the boy has become a man.”
The traffic campaign follows a recent meeting held by the Assistant Undersecretary of the Operations Affairs at the Ministry of Interior Maj. Gen. Jamal Al-Sayegh with the heads of Licensing and Operations sector at the General Traffic Department. During the meeting, Al-Sayegh urged the sector heads to launch an intensive traffic security campaign against reckless drivers in various areas of the country, especially during the rainy season. Reckless driving is seen to increase under rainy conditions, which endangers the lives of road users and causes inconvenience to citizens and expats.
The traffic campaign follows a recent meeting held by the Assistant Undersecretary of the Operations Affairs at the Ministry of Interior Maj. Gen. Jamal Al-Sayegh with the heads of Licensing and Operations sector at the General Traffic Department. During the meeting, Al-Sayegh urged the sector heads to launch an intensive traffic security campaign against reckless drivers in various areas of the country, especially during the rainy season. Reckless driving is seen to increase under rainy conditions, which endangers the lives of road users and causes inconvenience to citizens and expats.
Statistics from the recent campaign show that a total of 22 vehicles and 18 motorcycles were impounded, and 114 traffic law violators were referred to the administration’s custody, as well as 102 juveniles sent to the Juvenile Prosecution Office. The campaign also impounded 11 vehicles that were on the wanted list by security and judicial authorities, and arrested 28 persons wanted by the General Administration of Criminal Execution and the Civil Execution Department.
The statistics also revealed that the General Traffic Operations Department recorded the highest number of violations at 6,131, followed by the Hawally Traffic Department with 6,080, and the Capital Traffic Department in third place with 5,879. The Jahra Traffic Department recorded 2,981 violations, followed by the Traffic Department in Al-Ahmadi with 2,910, and Farwaniya Governorate with 2,909. The least number of violations were recorded by Mubarak Al-Kabeer Traffic Department with 1,365, and the Traffic Patrol Department which recorded 876 violations.
In addition, the traffic patrol officers were able to arrest 102 minors driving without a driver’s license, while a further 114 traffic law violators and reckless drivers. Were arrested.