Latest news with #KD300
Gulf Insider
21-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait's New Traffic Law Explained: Tougher Penalties, Expats Limited To One Car And Jail For Red-Light Violations
A new traffic law in Kuwait, introducing tough penalties to reduce road accidents in the country, is due to go into effect on Tuesday amid a multilingual awareness campaign. The code, replacing a 1976 law, authorises traffic police to arrest offenders in severe offences and hikes up fines. Traffic police will be mandated to arrest offenders in specific cases including driving under the influence of drinking or drugs; causing an accident resulting in injury or death; involvement in a car race without a permit; and attempting to escape following an accident or in the event of failure to respond to a police order to stop. At a glance Using a mobile phone while driving: Fine of KD75 ($243); up to 3 months in jail and a fine between KD150 and KD300. Parking in spaces designated for the disabled: Fine of KD 150; up to 3 years in jail and fines ranging from KD600 to KD1,000. Driving without a valid license or using a suspended or incorrect license: Fine of KD75; up to 3 months in jail and a fine between KD150 and KD300. Other cases are exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h; driving a buggy in non-designated places; driving past a red-light signal; using a vehicle for a purpose other than its specified one or to transport passengers without a permit; driving recklessly or without a licence, or with a revoked or suspended licence; and driving without the Kuwaiti licence plates. 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. Reckless driving is penalized by a fine of KD150 instead of 30. Illegal usage of parking spaces designated for people with disabilities is fined by KD150 in the new law against KD10 previously. 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. Expatriates will be only allowed to own one car under the new law whereby the foreign motorist faces deportation if he/she repeats serious traffic violations, Kuwaiti officials have said. The law, meanwhile, incorporates alternative penalties such as community service as the judge deems fit. The alternative penalty will be issued in line with the violator's profession. Work in community service could be for up to one year, for eight hours a day, and without pay. The list of the alternative penalties includes obligating the offender to repair the damage caused by his/her serious infringement to public property at his/her own expense. The judge can combine more than one service penalty that becomes effective upon the issuance of the ruling. To promote awareness of the traffic and legal amendments, Kuwaiti au-thorities have launched a campaign in several languages, namely English, Persian, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and Filipino. Kuwait, a country of 4.9 million people mostly expatriates, records between 200 and 300 traffic accidents per day. 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.
Gulf News
21-04-2025
- Gulf News
Kuwait's new traffic law explained: Tougher penalties, expats limited to one car and jail for red-light violations
Cairo: A new traffic law in Kuwait, introducing tough penalties to reduce road accidents in the country, is due to go into effect on Tuesday amid a multilingual awareness campaign. The code, replacing a 1976 law, authorises traffic police to arrest offenders in severe offences and hikes up fines. Traffic police will be mandated to arrest offenders in specific cases including driving under the influence of drinking or drugs; causing an accident resulting in injury or death; involvement in a car race without a permit; and attempting to escape following an accident or in the event of failure to respond to a police order to stop. At a glance Using a mobile phone while driving: Fine of KD75 ($243); up to 3 months in jail and a fine between KD150 and KD300. Parking in spaces designated for the disabled: Fine of KD 150; up to 3 years in jail and fines ranging from KD600 to KD1,000. Driving without a valid license or using a suspended or incorrect license: Fine of KD75; up to 3 months in jail and a fine between KD150 and KD300. Other cases are exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h; driving a buggy in non-designated places; driving past a red-light signal; using a vehicle for a purpose other than its specified one or to transport passengers without a permit; driving recklessly or without a licence, or with a revoked or suspended licence; and driving without the Kuwaiti licence plates. 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. Reckless driving is penalized by a fine of KD150 instead of 30. Illegal usage of parking spaces designated for people with disabilities is fined by KD150 in the new law against KD10 previously. 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. Expatriates will be only allowed to own one car under the new law whereby the foreign motorist faces deportation if he/she repeats serious traffic violations, Kuwaiti officials have said. The law, meanwhile, incorporates alternative penalties such as community service as the judge deems fit. The alternative penalty will be issued in line with the violator's profession. Work in community service could be for up to one year, for eight hours a day, and without pay. Alternative penalties The list of the alternative penalties includes obligating the offender to repair the damage caused by his/her serious infringement to public property at his/her own expense. The judge can combine more than one service penalty that becomes effective upon the issuance of the ruling. To promote awareness of the traffic and legal amendments, Kuwaiti au-thorities have launched a campaign in several languages, namely English, Persian, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and Filipino. Kuwait, a country of 4.9 million people mostly expatriates, records between 200 and 300 traffic accidents per day. Some 90% of accidents are caused by inattention while driving.
Arab Times
23-03-2025
- Arab Times
Eid Al-Fitr travel costs skyrocket as demand peaks
KUWAIT CITY, March 23: As the Eid Al-Fitr holiday is fast approaching, the air transport sector is witnessing a remarkable increase in airfare; with the cost of flights to nearby destinations now higher than usual. This is due to the increased demand for travel during the Eid holiday, since many citizens and expatriates want to take advantage of the short vacation to spend the holiday abroad to visit family and relatives or to enjoy the touristic atmosphere. With this seasonal pattern of rising airfare, travel and tourism experts confirmed to the newspaper that early planning is essential for travelers to secure reasonable prices; because waiting until the last few days before the travel date could limit options and result in costs much higher than they were a few weeks ago. General Manager of Alam Al-Salehiya Tourism and Travel Company Ayman Zandah explained that the rise in airfare during the holiday and vacation seasons is a normal and recurring phenomenon, as it is subject to supply and demand. He pointed out that travelers who book early enjoy discounted and attractive prices, while those who book at the last minute face higher costs due to limited availability. He said the most popular destinations during the Eid holiday include Cairo, which experiences crowding due to the Egyptian community's desire to spend the holiday in their home country, coinciding with the improved weather. He added that tourist destinations such as Dubai, Beirut, Istanbul, London, and Rome are witnessing an influx of holiday travelers. He disclosed that ticket prices three weeks before Eid were much lower, with return tickets ranging from KD130 to KD190, depending on the destination. He affirmed that the few days before the holiday witnessed significant increases, with ticket prices to London reaching KD450, to Cairo ranging from KD280 to KD300, to Istanbul between KD250 and KD300, and to Dubai ranging between KD130 and KD140. He revealed Dubai is also witnessing a surge in demand, with approximately 13 flights operating daily to the city; reflecting the high demand for this destination, alongside European destinations that are attracting increasing numbers of travelers during this period. He also emphasized that travel during holidays and vacations remains consistently active, indicating that early booking remains the best option to avoid high prices; since prices vary significantly depending on the timing of the booking and the proximity of the travel date. On the other hand, tourism expert Kamal Kabsha said the limited number of seats before the holiday date, compared to the increased demand during peak times, leads to an automatic increase in ticket prices as the holiday date approaches. 'This is something travelers notice annually during holidays and tourist seasons,' he added. He stated that some destinations are experiencing high demand; particularly in cities that combine tourism, shopping and entertainment services, leading to flight seats filling up quickly and ticket prices gradually rising. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
