475 violate traffic rules, drive on hard shoulder

Four hundred and seventy-five traffic violations related to driving on the emergency lane have already been recorded since the beginning of the current year, authorities announced. Hundreds of motorists have been fined for illegally driving on the emergency lane, the Ministry of Interior revealed yesterday.

“The offence was driving through the emergency lane on all roads, mostly Shaikh Jaber Al Sabah Highway, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman highway, Sitra Bridge and Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Bridge during the rush hours in the morning and evening,” the Ministry of Interior stated. The ministry urged citizens and residents to be careful on the road and avoid such practices. “The General Directorate considers such violation as an uncivilised practice that could cause traffic accidents and jams. It could also hinder the movement of ambulance and rescue vehicles.”

It asserted the continuation to monitor and take actions against all types of violations. Meanwhile, owing to other violations, the director-general of traffic, Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa confirmed the suspensions of driving licences of 56 truck drivers in the first week of January for violating various traffic rules.

They will be banned from driving any vehicle for 30 days, their licences were withdrawn for periods ranging from a month to six months in case of repeating the offences. The General Directorate of Traffic launched a campaign to monitor illegal driving practices by truck drivers, such as not sticking to the right lanes and overtaking in a way that risk the safety of others.