Al-Eissa: Road accident deaths dropped from 261 to 188; speeding incidents fell from 1.6 million to 561,000 since the implementation of the new traffic law

Mansour Al-Sultan: Colonel Fahd Al-Issa, Director of Traffic Awareness at the General Directorate of Traffic, affirmed that the implementation of the new traffic law has clearly contributed to reducing the number of fatalities, accidents, and traffic violations. He noted that the results achieved over a full year of the law’s application reflect the effectiveness of the new traffic measures and the importance of compliance with the law and enhancing road safety culture among road users.

During an interview with Kuwait Radio, Colonel Al-Issa explained that the number of fatalities resulting from traffic accidents in the year preceding the implementation of the new law stood at 261, which dropped to 188 after one year of enforcement, representing a decrease of 73 deaths. He stated that the primary objective of the new traffic law is to curb traffic accidents and reduce fatalities and injuries, alongside lowering violations and dangerous driving behaviors. He emphasized that the recorded results in recent periods confirm a noticeable improvement in road safety indicators.

He pointed out that the new law has significantly reduced the number of traffic accidents, which in turn led to a decline in injuries and fatalities, as well as a marked drop in traffic violations. Colonel Al-Issa stressed that this improvement in indicators resulted from the integration of several factors, foremost among them the enforcement of the law, increased awareness and traffic culture among citizens and residents, and greater adherence to traffic regulations and rules.

He clarified that the reduction in violations, accidents, and fatalities is not solely due to the application of penalties, but also stems from heightened awareness and traffic culture among road users. He added that citizens and residents have become more aware of the dangers of certain driving behaviors, particularly speeding and running red lights, noting that compliance with traffic rules serves as the first line of defense in protecting lives and property.

Regarding speeding violations, Colonel Fahd Al-Issa explained that the new traffic law includes strict penalties for drivers who exceed speed limits in a manner that endangers their own lives and those of other road users. He detailed that exceeding 150 kilometers per hour results in vehicle impoundment and legal action against the offender, with penalties escalating as speed increases, reaching the harshest sanctions in cases of high speeds that endanger others. He noted that extremely high speeds may lead to the impoundment of both the vehicle and the driver, with the driver referred to legal procedures. For expatriates, penalties may include deportation, depending on the severity of the violation and the offender’s legal status.

Colonel Al-Issa revealed a significant drop in speeding violations following the implementation of the new law, noting that before the law, speeding violations exceeded 1.6 million. After the new law was enacted, the number fell to approximately 561,000, representing a decrease of nearly 65 percent. He affirmed that this decline reflects increased compliance among road users and the impact of new measures in curbing dangerous driving behaviors, stressing that the goal is not to record the maximum number of violations, but to protect lives and property and enhance road safety.

He indicated that improvements in road safety indicators are also linked to several factors, including road maintenance, efficiency upgrades, and safety measures, which contribute to providing a safer traffic environment for road users. He explained that coordinated efforts among traffic, road, and awareness authorities, combined with drivers’ cooperation and compliance with the law, are key factors in achieving further reductions in accident and fatality rates.

Colonel Fahd Ibrahim Al-Issa confirmed continuous coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to conduct surprise inspections on vehicle tinting shops, ensuring compliance with approved regulations and permitted tinting percentages. He clarified that the allowed tinting level for vehicle windows is 50 percent, emphasizing the necessity for shop owners to adhere to this limit without exceeding it, due to its importance in maintaining visibility and clarity for drivers and enhancing road safety. He noted that these campaigns aim to ensure shops comply with approved standards; any non-compliant shop will face legal action by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, including issuing violations and closing the establishment according to prevailing systems and regulations. He affirmed that monitoring vehicle tinting shops is part of joint efforts to reduce violations that may affect road safety and to ensure that services provided to vehicle owners are delivered within approved controls and laws.

In a related context, Colonel Fahd Al-Issa explained that the new system for operating traffic lights at intersections has yielded positive results for road safety. He stated that the system provides drivers with warnings before transitioning between light phases, giving them sufficient time and distance to prepare to stop at a red light or to proceed when the light turns green. He emphasized that the system’s objective is to help drivers make appropriate decisions at the right time and avoid arriving at intersections unexpectedly, thereby reducing red-light violations and minimizing the likelihood of accidents at intersections. He noted that the implementation of this system has positively impacted red-light violation rates and contributed to lowering accident rates at intersections, affirming that the development of traffic light systems is part of an integrated framework aimed at enhancing road safety.

Colonel Fahd Al-Issa stressed that the philosophy of the new traffic law is not based solely on punishment, but primarily aims to protect lives and property and curb driving behaviors that threaten road users’ safety. He affirmed that the decline in fatalities and speeding violations is a positive indicator of the success of efforts in road safety, noting that sustaining these results requires continued compliance with the law and strengthening traffic culture, as road safety is a shared responsibility between security authorities and vehicle users.

Colonel Al-Issa concluded by emphasizing that achieving safer roads requires everyone’s cooperation and drivers’ adherence to speed limits and traffic rules, and that no violation should be underestimated, as it can turn into an accident in an instant, costing a life or injuring others.