The Kuwait General Directorate of Traffic on May 9 warned that jaywalking endangers both pedestrians and other road users while announcing fines for violations during the Unified Gulf Traffic Week activities held under the slogan “Cross Safely.” Pedestrians caught crossing from undesignated areas face an immediate reconciliation fine of 20 dinars with court referrals after refusal drawing penalties between 45 and 75 dinars according to the directorate. The authority urged the public to refrain from mobile phone use while crossing to obey traffic signals and to verify that vehicles have fully stopped before proceeding.
In its statement the General Directorate of Traffic stressed that such improper crossings not only endanger lives but also trigger legal penalties as reported by Arab Times. It called for consistent use of designated pedestrian crossings to bolster safety across Kuwait’s road network. The campaign fits into a broader GCC initiative that promotes uniform traffic awareness measures throughout the region.
The traffic department reported that more than 8,900 pedestrians received fines for crossing outside designated lanes in the 12 months ending April 2026. Colonel Fahad Al-Issa head of the traffic awareness department told local outlets that stringent enforcement drove a 34 percent reduction in road accident deaths during the first half of 2025 along with a 16 percent decline in overall violations. The Ministry of Interior has highlighted these outcomes as evidence of intensified monitoring and public education campaigns.
World Health Organization data shows that vulnerable road users including pedestrians account for more than half of global traffic fatalities with death risk rising sharply alongside vehicle speeds. Historical Kuwaiti records place annual road traffic deaths near 450 though recent enforcement has produced measurable declines according to ministry assessments. The directorate positioned its latest warnings as a continuation of efforts to address persistent pedestrian-related incidents.
Unified Gulf Traffic Week which ran in early May 2026 featured coordinated events across member states including awareness lectures and exhibitions in venues such as Qatar’s Place Vendôme Mall. Oman used the platform to spotlight risks associated with wadi crossings while other participants distributed safety materials under the shared “Cross Safely” theme according to regional interior ministry releases. Kuwait’s contribution centered on legal penalties and practical crossing guidelines distributed through its traffic authority.
The General Directorate of Traffic additionally reminded residents to check both directions thoroughly after confirming traffic has halted before entering any roadway. Its statement reiterated that adherence to these steps remains central to preventing avoidable collisions during daily commutes. Officials framed the fines as a deterrent within the ongoing regional push to elevate compliance standards.
