100,000 traffic violations... severe
- Brigadier General Al-Namran: A positive gesture by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, in granting violators a chance to rectify their status
- Violators can settle fines and retrieve their vehicles directly during the exhibition days
- The block removal initiative does not cover speeding violations exceeding 180 km/h, nor does it apply to “Jeti” and “ZD” vehicles
- Brigadier General Al-Subhan: Smart vehicle impoundment system to be implemented in September, alongside the traditional system
- Traffic violations have decreased by 60 percent following the implementation of the new traffic law
- Colonel Al-Daihani: The exhibition enhances awareness of new laws and provides the Ministry’s services to the public
Meanwhile, Acting Director General of the General Directorate of Traffic, Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Namran, revealed statistics indicating that over 100,000 serious traffic violations were registered. The opening hours of the “Be Aware” exhibition, which opened on Thursday, witnessed a large turnout from citizens and residents seeking to settle their violations and pay outstanding fines, benefiting from the positive gesture by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, who granted violators a chance to rectify their status.
This came at the Ministry of Interior’s exhibition, inaugurated under the patronage and attendance of Deputy Minister of Interior Major General Abdulwahab Al-Wahhab, at The Avenues Mall. The event runs for three days until Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., aiming to enhance security awareness and introduce the services provided by the Ministry’s various sectors. Major General Al-Wahhab began his tour of the exhibition by inspecting the booths of the Ministry’s different sectors and listening to explanations about the services offered to visitors and the awareness and educational messages directed at various segments of society.
Acting Director General of the General Directorate of Traffic, Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Namran, emphasized that “the Directorate’s participation in the exhibition aims to provide citizens and residents with the opportunity to lift blocks on all vehicles registered with non-serious traffic violations, as part of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance traffic awareness and consolidate adherence to road safety rules.”
Al-Namran told journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration that “this is an opportunity for violators and a positive gesture by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, granting violators a chance to rectify their status and avoid repeating violations in the future.” He noted that the number of serious violations exceeds 100,000, urging everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and settle their cases.
Al-Namran added that “violators can settle their fines and retrieve their vehicles directly during the exhibition days after completing the payment process. However, the decision excludes speeding violations exceeding 180 kilometers per hour, as well as certain serious violations related to high speeds and ‘Jeti’ and ‘ZD’ vehicles, which are not covered by the decision.”
Al-Namran called on citizens and residents to “take advantage of the services provided at the exhibition. This step comes within the framework of supporting traffic discipline, raising awareness among road users, and reinforcing the concept that traffic safety is a shared responsibility, not merely a set of procedures or penalties.”
For his part, Assistant Director General of the General Directorate of Traffic for Licensing and Violations Affairs, Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Subhan, confirmed that “the implementation of the new traffic law a year and four months ago contributed to a reduction in traffic violations by 50 to 60 percent, particularly those related to high speeds.”
Al-Subhan, in a statement to “Al-Rai,” noted that “the Ministry of Interior annually organizes the traffic exhibition in cooperation with various entities, aiming to educate the public and enhance awareness of traffic laws.” He added that the exhibition represents an opportunity to engage with citizens and residents and introduce new procedures and laws.
Al-Subhan highlighted that judicial rulings have been issued imposing imprisonment and vehicle confiscation, alongside alternative penalties for some offenders who committed serious traffic violations such as excessive speeding, reckless and careless driving, and running red lights. He confirmed that several residents have been deported from the country due to committing serious traffic infractions.
He revealed that the General Directorate of Traffic is planning to implement the smart vehicle impoundment system next September, while continuing the traditional impoundment system, as part of efforts to develop the traffic system and enhance compliance with laws.
Al-Daihani explained that the exhibition features a select group of specialists to answer visitors’ inquiries, along with interactive screens that allow the public to learn about the laws and have questions answered in an interactive manner, thereby contributing to raising legal awareness, particularly among young people, and reaching the widest possible audience to inform them about the Ministry of Interior’s regulations.
