The campaign carried out Friday and Saturday by the General Traffic Department targeted all six governorates of Kuwait. Speeding violations detected by radar accounted for 149 of the infractions while failure to wear seat belts resulted in 124 citations. Illegal parking citations at hospitals reached 223 and the operation saw 74 vehicles impounded in total. Authorities also placed seven individuals in precautionary detention as part of the intensified enforcement.
According to the General Traffic Department, three Kuwaiti citizens among those detained were referred to the Juvenile Detention Center while six vehicles were seized under existing judicial impound orders. Ten residency law violators were also apprehended and are scheduled for deportation as the campaign blended traffic enforcement with immigration checks. The department’s statistics reflect a comprehensive approach extending beyond road rules alone.
Historical data from the Ministry of Interior shows traffic citations in Kuwait climbed from 4 million in 2011 to 6.5 million in 2015 with a five-year total of 24.2 million violations. Speeding has remained the predominant offense followed by parking and license issues throughout that period. Road traffic deaths totaled 2,282 over those five years with non-Kuwaitis comprising the large majority of victims at roughly four times the rate of citizens.
Introduction of harsher penalties under a new traffic law produced sharp declines with speeding violations dropping 65 percent and traffic accidents falling 45 percent in early 2025, a traffic awareness official reported. The weekend crackdown represents continuation of such intensified enforcement that has produced positive results in recent years. Earlier operations in 2026 recorded over 3,200 violations within 24 hours demonstrating the scale of ongoing campaigns.
The General Traffic Department said the campaign formed part of ongoing security efforts to improve road safety, enforce traffic regulations and curb reckless driving. As the unit responsible for issuing licenses and collecting violations the department relies on radar systems and field patrols to maintain compliance. Officials have emphasized the importance of these periodic drives in addressing persistent behavioral issues on Kuwaiti roads.
Industry analysis places the value of Kuwait’s road safety sector at 150 million dollars in 2025 with expectations of growth to 200 million by 2031 at a rate of 9.75 percent annually. This expansion coincides with increased deployment of monitoring technology and stricter regulatory frameworks. The latest figures from the department add to a growing body of data used to shape national road safety strategies.
