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| Kuwait Traffic Laws |
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Traffic Laws in Kuwait have recently become tougher. As of May 1, 2008 certain strict rules have come into play here in Kuwait. You may no longer talk on the phone without a hands free device. You must always use the hands free device in your car, and in addition to that, you aren't supposed to be eating, drinking, or even smoking in your car. (uhuh) Also, running red lights and driving over the speed limits, particularly through traffic intersections will be punished far stricter than they ever have been in the past. So, please beware, and drive accordingly. We don't want anything to happen to you. Drive carefully! :)
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URGENT WARNING!!! (Particularly for women)
If you are driving along and haven't just robbed a bank (meaning you know you haven't done anything wrong), and even if you did do something wrong, and a guy in any kind of car puts a blue light up on top of the car and tries to flag you down... DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT STOP!!!
Don't make any obscene gestures, no matter how tempted you are, and don't do anything rash.
Lock your doors... and then...
Immediately take the license number of the car!
after that...
You can do one of two things...
1) Pretend that you want him to follow you and go straight to a police station
2) Just go straight to a police station
If you don't know where one is, then call 777 immediately and ask.
Once you get to the police station honk your horn for all you're worth, and wait for the police to come out.
Mention your embassy if you are a foreigner, otherwise, just tell them what happened.
Don't let anyone railroad you into not filing charges, Do file charges! This will not only protect you but also others in the future!
If you have an emergency, feel free to call me (seriously) 99686064, and I will help you if I can.
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For more information you can just click HERE for the Ministry of the Interior
You can check your traffic violations and more!
For information on your traffic violations by license plate number, please click HERE!
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You really need to keep your wits about you when driving in Kuwait!
Everything you need to know about driving in Kuwait!
Your guide to Kuwait's traffic laws - the old and the new. Plus Kuwait Living's Top Tips for Driving. Make sure you keep checking Kuwait Living for the latest changes to the traffic laws.
Basic Rules!
- If you're in the front of the car, you must wear your seatbelt.
- Driving is on the right.
- If you're in an accident you must stay by your vehicle at the scene until the police arrive.
- Speed limits are posted
- If the curb is painted black and yellow, parking is prohibited.
- Digital speed cameras are a common feature on Kuwait's roads.
- You can't make a right turn while the traffic light is red unless there's a special lane to do so or a signal allowing it.
Police can detain drivers under the following circumstances:
- You are caught driving without a valid driving license
- You cause an accident which may result in death or serious injury
- Racing on the public roads
- Attempting to flee the scene of an accident in which people may have been injured or after being ordered to stop.
- Running a red light
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving recklessly so as to endanger others.
New Traffic Laws - the new POINT SYSTEM!
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Excerpt from Official Gazette; Effective from July, 2006 |
All concerned are requested to note that there is now a specific number of points assigned for every traffic violation (as detailed below in TABLE II) and upon reaching certain amount of points, action is being taken against the violator.
TABLE I
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TABLE OF VIOLATIONS |
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4 Points |
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Crossing Red Traffic Light |
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4 Points |
Exceeding Specified Speed Limit |
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3 Points |
Driving in the Opposite Direction |
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3 Points |
Driving on a License not suitable for that Category |
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3 Points |
Driving with Withdrawn or Invalid Driving License |
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4 Points |
Reckless Driving |
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3 Points |
Driving a Unlicensed Vehicle |
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3 Points |
Driving a vehicle without the number plate / defaced number plate. |
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2 Points |
Using private car for public transportation |
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2 Points |
Intentionally obstructing traffic |
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2 Points |
Driving a vehicle without proper function of brakes |
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1 Point |
Violating passenger loading regulations |
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1 Point |
Exceeding vehicle stipulated weight, width and length |
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1 Point |
Non-adherence to traffic lines and signs |
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1 Point |
Illegal U turns |
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1 Point |
Driving without compulsory insurance document |
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1 Point |
Invalid car permits |
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1 Point |
Vehicle emitting smoke i.e. absence of spark arrester |
TABLE II
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Specific Number of Points Assigned for Every Traffic Violation:- |
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14 points |
1st Time violators, Withdrawal of driving permit for 1 month |
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12 points |
2nd Time violators, Withdrawal of driving permit for 6 months |
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10 points |
3rd Time violators, Withdrawal of driving permit for 9 months |
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8 points |
4th Time violators, Withdrawal of driving permit for 1 year |
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6 points |
5th Time violators, Permanent Withdrawal of driving license |
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These points will be automatically deleted under the following 2 conditions.
?ã Upon withdrawal of a Driving Permit
?ã Non-repetition of any other violation
Details of Maximum Fines and Maximum Detentions for Life Threatening Offences
TABLE III
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S# |
Violation |
Maximum Fine |
Maximum Detention |
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1) |
Over-Speeding |
KD 100.000 |
3 Months |
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2) |
Crossing Red Signal |
KD 300.000 |
3 Months |
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3) |
Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs |
KD 500.000 |
1 Year plus and Withdrawal of license |
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Drive Defensively! It's the law of the jungle on Kuwait's roads - only the strongest survive, and being timid will get you nowhere, so grit your teeth and be assertive.
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Be alert at all times. You never know where a crazy driver may spring from, so you need to be constantly aware of what other cars are doing.
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Driving in Kuwait is dangerous. You certainly need to be a confident, experienced driver to cope.
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Tailgating is very common and is the cause of many accidents. Don't do it! If someone is hanging on your bumper, pull over as quickly as possible.
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Don't drive on the hard shoulder. Other people may, but you shouldn't. Not only is it very dangerous, it's also illegal and only the emergency services are allowed to use it.
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Pull over for the emergency services. Unfortunately many drivers don't get out of the way for ambulances etc which can cause fatal delays. Don't follow their example. Pull over straight away and don't follow behind the ambulance when it's clearing a path through the traffic.
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Don't 'Drift'. This is quite a common driving habit in Kuwait and should be banned. Basically it's when drivers don't stay in one lane, but weave between several. Sometimes they even try to create their own lane when there isn't one - which is not a good idea!
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Undertaking. Don't be surprised if someone undertakes you, it's very usual!
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Lanes. Highways in Kuwait usually have fast , middle and slow lanes with corresponding speeds. However these are not often followed and if you a massive truck bombing it down the fast lane at 180 kmph it's probably best to get out of the way as quickly as possible.
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Getting flashed from behind means the driver behind you wants you to pull over so he can overtake. Let him. If you don't, he'll only hover two inches away from your bumper for the remainder of your journey and may end up rear-ending you.
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Giving Way. It's not usual for drivers to give way to others when joining a main road, so stop and wait for a break in the traffic before joining and don't assume you'll be let in.
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Indicators are obviously useful but are sadly not often employed on the raods in Kuwait. Somtimes a driver will get his left and right confused and indicate the opposite way he wants to go, other times drivers will be completely in the wrong lane but still expect to make a turn. It's a fact of life, and something you simply have to get used to.
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Speed Limits exist but are frequently ignored except where there are well-known speed cameras.
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