The Ministry of Interior has directed stricter enforcement against delivery riders committing traffic violations after a meeting on October 4 between traffic officials and company representatives. Brigadier General Ahmad Fahad Al-Azmi, head of the traffic and operations sector, convened the session under instructions from First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah. According to the ministry, the discussions emphasized companies’ responsibility to educate drivers on regulations and monitor compliance to protect both riders and other road users. The ministry’s statement highlighted observed violations including weaving between vehicles, riding on sidewalks and pedestrian bridges, running red lights and traveling against the flow of traffic.
Delivery companies were told that repeated offenses by their riders would trigger administrative measures in addition to individual penalties, the ministry reported. Impoundment of motorcycles or vehicles for a minimum of 60 days applies to those caught in violations during the “Prevention and Safety” campaign that began on October 18. A ministry assessment found that such practices disrupt traffic flow and increase accident risks, particularly during peak delivery hours. Field inspections will continue alongside monitoring by approximately 370 advanced cameras deployed across key roads.
Riding on sidewalks carries an immediate fine of 30 Kuwaiti dinars, according to ministry guidelines. If cases proceed to court, riders face up to one month in prison, fines between 50 and 100 dinars, or both penalties. The ministry stressed that sidewalks, footbridges and their ramps are reserved exclusively for pedestrians and that shortcuts do not justify breaking rules. “Taking a shortcut does not justify a violation,” the ministry said. “Your compliance protects you and others.”
Traffic authorities have recorded more than 1.1 million violations nationwide in the first five months of the year, a figure that prompted the focus on high-risk groups including delivery operators. The campaign builds on earlier meetings where officials reminded companies that working for delivery services grants no exemption from standard traffic laws. Colonel Fahd Al-Essa, director of the traffic awareness department, outlined the most common infractions as changing lanes without signaling, overtaking stopped vehicles at signals and mounting pavements.
In parallel operations across Farwaniya and Jahra governorates, authorities issued 103 traffic citations while arresting dozens of individuals for residency violations and outstanding warrants, the ministry reported. Seven wanted vehicles were seized during those sweeps. The delivery enforcement forms part of a broader push to reduce congestion and enhance safety on Kuwait’s roads, where motorcycles often navigate dense urban traffic. Delivery firms have been instructed to implement internal controls to avoid penalties that could disrupt operations.
The ministry’s data places the expatriate workforce, which includes many delivery riders, at over 3.3 million people, amplifying the impact of any sector-wide compliance drive. Officials noted that awareness efforts will accompany enforcement to encourage voluntary adherence rather than solely relying on penalties. Continued monitoring will assess the campaign’s effect on overall violation rates in the coming weeks.
