close
Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Buhassan.
Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Buhassan.

Kuwait’s traffic department issues 1.9m speeding tickets in 2024

90% of 65,991 accidents recorded in 2024 linked to distractions: Official

KUWAIT: Brigadier General Mohammad Al-Subhan, Director of Coordination and Follow-up at the Ministry of Interior’s Traffic Sector, revealed that 61,553 traffic violations were recorded in the final quarter of 2024 for failure to wear seatbelts and for using mobile phones while driving.

Al-Subhan made this announcement during a lecture organized by the Gulf Traffic Week Organizing Committee at the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). The lecture, which highlighted the committee’s activities for the 38th Gulf Traffic Week, is being held under the slogan “Driving Without a Phone.”

He also shared that the total number of traffic accidents in Kuwait in 2024 reached 65,991, resulting in 284 fatalities. Notably, 90 percent of these accidents were attributed to inattention and distractions, while the remaining 10 percent were caused by vehicle malfunctions or poor road conditions.

Fatality statistics revealed that children aged 1-9 years accounted for 8 deaths, while those in the 10-19 age range suffered 27 fatalities. The 20-29 age group recorded 61 deaths, followed by 52 fatalities in the 30-39 age group, 53 in the 40-49 group, 50 in the 50-59 range, and 31 deaths in the 60+ group.

Al-Subhan emphasized the rising trend in traffic violations and accidents in recent years, fueled by increasing reckless behavior. He highlighted the urgent need for stricter penalties to reduce violations and preserve lives.

Further, Al-Subhan reported that 1,926,320 speeding violations were recorded in 2024, along with 174,793 violations for running red lights. Other offenses included 152,367 instances of not wearing seatbelts, 79,519 cases of using mobile phones while driving, 27,163 for noisy vehicles, and 11,307 for reckless driving. A total of 8,455 vehicles and 4,027 motorcycles were impounded during the year.

He also discussed recent amendments to the traffic law, which now includes higher financial fines to deter lawbreakers.

Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Buhassan, Assistant Director of Traffic Awareness and member of the Gulf Traffic Week Committee, presented details on the various traffic monitoring systems in place, such as fixed and mobile cameras, surveillance cameras, and point-to-point systems that monitor seatbelt use and mobile phone violations.

Buhassan further explained that the new law imposes a KD 50 fine for allowing a child under 10 to sit in the front seat or fail to secure them properly in the back seat, up from the previous fine of KD 5. The session also included video clips illustrating common traffic accidents, their primary causes, and the role of the Central Control Room in monitoring traffic, adjusting intersection timings, tracking violators, and issuing indirect violations. The seminar also covered traffic accident management and recent changes to traffic laws and procedures. — KUNA

The rush to speculate in the stock market has created victims, and these victims are often easy targets for those who claim to be knowledgeable. This, in my view, is one of the most pressing issues in our society. People exchange information without...
By Farah AlHashem The ceasefire agreement between the Zionist entity and Hamas, brokered in January 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict that has shaped the Zionist entity’s future. Following the Oct 7 attacks, known as the “Al-A...
MORE STORIES