The General Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior issued a warning on Tuesday against motorists who repeatedly commit two specific traffic violations, stating that such persistence would trigger referral to court. The department highlighted non-compliance with overtaking rules and deliberate obstruction of traffic flow on public roads as the infractions drawing heightened scrutiny. Officials emphasized that these actions undermine road safety and disrupt normal vehicle movement across the network.
According to the ministry’s announcement, the settlement fee stands at KD 20 for violations of Article 36, which addresses deliberate obstruction of traffic flow on public roads. A KD 15 fee applies to breaches of Article 37 covering violations of overtaking regulations. The department further noted that vehicles involved in these offenses may face impoundment for periods of up to two months in line with Article 207 of the executive regulations of the Traffic Law.
Ministry of Interior figures show the General Traffic Department recorded 351,597 traffic violations and 22,012 accidents between January 1 and June 30, 2026. These statistics reflect intensified monitoring across governorates as authorities seek to address persistent behavioral issues behind the wheel. Recent enforcement campaigns have included multiple rounds of checkpoint operations that resulted in dozens of impoundments for related infractions.
The latest warning aligns with a broader push that began earlier in the year when updated traffic penalties took effect on January 1, 2026, the ministry reported. Those revisions targeted rising road fatalities and dangerous driving patterns through stricter measures. A separate interior ministry statement issued last week reminded drivers to settle outstanding fines promptly via the Sahel application or ministry website to avoid escalation to traffic court, where jail terms or higher penalties could follow.
Public Authority for Civil Information data places Kuwait’s expatriate population at more than 3.3 million, a demographic that forms a significant portion of daily road users and amplifies the reach of such enforcement notices. The General Traffic Department has conducted repeated awareness drives focused on high-risk maneuvers at U-turns and exits, where obstruction and unsafe overtaking frequently occur. Officials indicated that continued violations in these areas would prompt not only fines and impoundments but also formal legal proceedings to deter recurrence.
