Kuwait To Impound Noisy Cars To Curb Reckless Driving
Kuwait has warned motorists of temporarily impounding noise-making vehicles as part of a new stringent traffic law aimed to boost road safety and curb reckless driving in the country.
The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry said it will take strict measures against vehicles that violate security and durability requirements, and emit disturbing noises.
The ministry added that any such vehicle will be impounded for 60 days while legal measures will be taken against its driver.
Kuwait, a country of 4.9 million people, records between 200 and 300 traffic accidents per day, resulting in 28 to 30 injuries. Some 90% of accidents are caused by inattention while driving.
Traffic accidents in Kuwait resulted last year in 284 deaths against 296 in 2023, according to official figures.
The fatalities included 11 children under the age of 14.
Kuwait is set to enforce in April a new traffic law that incorporates tough penalties and hefty fines, replacing a traffic law that went into effect in 1976.
Under the new law, the fine for using a mobile phone while driving increases from KD5 ($16.2) to KD75, while the penalty for not wearing a seat belt triples to KD30. The fine for reckless driving has raised significantly from KD30 to KD150.
The penalty for driving past a red light is toughened from a misdemeanor to a felony. This offence is punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of KD1,000.
Officials have repeatedly emphasized that the new traffic law is necessary to reduce serious violations, as traffic accidents are considered the second major cause of death in Kuwait after heart disease.
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