JEDDAH, 6 November 2007 — The Council of Ministers yesterday approved a new traffic law that mandates tough punishment for joyriders and denies a driving license to those convicted of taking or dealing in drugs.
The weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Sultan, also decided to institute a SR1,000 fee for issuing multiple-entry business visas valid for a year. Reciprocal treatment will be given to countries that issue such visas to Saudi businessmen for a smaller amount or for free, the Saudi Press Agency said.
“A Supreme Traffic Council will be established at the Interior Ministry under the new law and this high supervising body appointed by royal decree will set traffic policies,” said Saud Al-Muthami, state minister for Shoura affairs and acting information minister.
The Cabinet allowed existing agencies to look into traffic disputes and violations until the establishment of special traffic courts in accordance with the new law. The new traffic law requires that all vehicles must follow standards approved by the Saudi Standards Organization.
Individuals convicted of fully or partly damaging bodies of a person involved in accidents will be jailed for not more than a year and fined not more than SR10,000 or given either punishment, but without affecting private rights.
The law considers joyriding a traffic violation and persons involved in joyriding for the first time will have their cars seized for 15 days and be fined SR1,000. If the offense is committed a second time, vehicles will be detained for a month and a fine of SR1,500 imposed. Third time offenders will be fined SR2,000 and their cars will be impounded.
“The traffic department, in coordination with other agencies, will organize car clubs that issue international driving licenses,” Muthami said, quoting the Cabinet decisions. The law is expected to reduce the number of road accidents in the Kingdom.
During the last five years, traffic departments have registered more than 1.36 million accidents causing the deaths of 21,900 people and injuring 122,600 others. Every minute at least 11 traffic violations take place in the Kingdom. Annual material losses from road accidents are estimated at SR21 billion.
The Cabinet reviewed the current European tour of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and said it would promote cooperation in vital areas with the countries visited, especially in the transfer of technology, scientific research, education and training. The meeting also commended the king’s initiatives to promote world peace and stability.
The Cabinet meeting reiterated Saudi Arabia’s readiness to support all friendly countries that work to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region and at any flash points in the world. It also said that the Kingdom would treat all Iraqis equally, without considering their ethnic, racial and religious differences.
“The crown prince expressed his delight over the good performance of the economy in the light of the 43rd annual report of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency,” Muthami said. The World Economic Forum and the World Bank have commended the Kingdom’s investment-friendly atmosphere.
The Cabinet meeting authorized the chairman of the Supreme Commission for Tourism or his deputy to hold talks with the South African Ministry of Environment and Tourism to sign a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation in the tourism sector.
The meeting also decided to establish a joint stock company to be named the Saudi Reinsurance Cooperative Company.
