Kuwait’s General Directorate of Traffic has penalized 372 drivers for failing to use turn indicators, a key violation targeted in its latest safety campaign that ran through the end of September 2026. The enforcement action, part of ongoing efforts to curb dangerous driving habits, underscores the directorate’s focus on reducing accidents caused by improper lane changes and turns. According to the directorate, the fines were issued across various governorates as officers monitored intersections and highways for compliance with basic signaling rules.
The campaign comes amid the full implementation of Decree-Law No. 5 of 2025, which updated the traffic regulations to impose stricter penalties on a range of offenses. A review published by Times Kuwait showed that violations related to failing to use necessary lights, including indicators, can result in fines between 45 and 75 dinars depending on circumstances. This legislative update, effective since April 2025, forms part of a broader push by the Ministry of Interior to address road crash rates through both education and enforcement.
Ministry of Interior figures from a January 2026 campaign revealed more than 27,000 traffic tickets issued in a single week alongside hundreds of vehicle impoundments, illustrating the scale of violations that include signaling failures. The directorate has stressed in multiple updates that omitting indicators contributes to merging incidents and sideswipe collisions on busy roadways. Officials have urged motorists to signal intentions early and consistently as a fundamental safety practice.
Under the revised traffic framework, the General Directorate of Traffic has increased reliance on both manual patrols and automated detection to identify infractions more effectively across the country. Drivers cited in the recent operation received on-the-spot fines consistent with reconciliation amounts outlined in the 2025 decree, the ministry reported. The authority added that repeat offenders risk accumulating license points that could lead to suspension or mandatory court appearances.
Traffic safety assessments have long identified consistent indicator use as critical to preventing collisions, especially in Kuwait’s high-density urban network where the expatriate population constitutes the majority of drivers. The indicator-focused drive follows similar operations on seatbelt adherence and distracted driving, all integrated into the ministry’s yearly traffic management strategy that incorporates multilingual outreach. Public Authority for Civil Information data places the expatriate share of residents above two-thirds, amplifying the need for inclusive enforcement approaches.
The Ministry of Interior continues to direct violators toward the Sahel digital platform for violation payments and status checks, streamlining processes that once required physical visits. Central Statistical Bureau compilations have identified traffic accidents as a persistent factor in injuries among the working-age demographic. The directorate plans to sustain campaign intensity through the remainder of 2026 with the goal of achieving sustained declines in overall violation numbers.
