Kuwait traffic authorities arrested five speeders on June 18, 2026, including an Asian expatriate facing deportation for driving over 153 kilometers per hour, as part of ongoing campaigns to reduce road accidents. Sources told Arab Times that the General Department of Traffic has intensified monitoring on major roads and highways following numerous serious violations. The campaigns extend beyond issuing citations to ensure compliance with safety regulations and deter reckless driving that threatens other road users.
Arab Times reported that traffic regulations are enforced equally on citizens and expatriates alike. Sources confirmed to the newspaper that legal measures include detention at traffic police stations for Kuwaitis while expatriates face deportation proceedings. In one operation Jahra and highway patrol units apprehended three Kuwaitis and one Gulf national driving at 170 kilometers per hour along with the Asian motorist whose vehicle was also impounded.
Sources explained to Arab Times that speeding ranks among the most dangerous traffic violations because it heightens the risk of drivers losing vehicle control. They added that such actions increase the likelihood of serious accidents capable of causing severe injuries or deaths. Traffic officers apply the law firmly against anyone whose behavior endangers the lives and safety of others on the road.
The operations follow a May 2026 Interior Ministry announcement outlining a zero-tolerance policy for exceeding posted speed limits. According to the ministry graphic shared widely on social media expatriates caught driving above 150 kilometers per hour face traffic violations vehicle impoundment and deportation while citizens receive violations and impoundment. At 170 kilometers per hour citizens encounter detention pending legal procedures whereas expatriates face deportation and those exceeding 200 kilometers per hour risk referral for imprisonment proceedings regardless of nationality.
Interior Ministry data shows that speeding violations plunged 65 percent in the year following enforcement of the new traffic law. The figure fell from 1,618,739 violations in the period ending April 2025 to 561,820 in the subsequent 12 months through April 2026. Officials have cited the decline as evidence of greater road awareness among drivers.
A 2022 study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information indicated that about 450 people die annually in Kuwait from road traffic injuries. The research found that non-Kuwaitis account for counts four times higher than citizens in such incidents. Road safety remains a priority as authorities continue targeted enforcement to address persistent risks on the country’s highways.
Security sources urged motorists through Arab Times to refrain from exceeding speed limits under any circumstances. They emphasized that compliance avoids legal complications while guaranteeing the safety of all road users. The department’s campaigns reflect sustained efforts to curb violations that have historically contributed to Kuwait’s traffic accident rates.
