Shoura welcomes steep fine for drifting

RIYADH: The Kingdom has raised fines for drifting 20 times in order to combat the practice that presents tremendous risks to traffic safety of all concerned.
The fine for drifting before the Council of Ministers announced its amendment to the traffic law was between SR1,000 and SR2,000. The new, stricter, decision has raised the fine to around SR20,000 for a first-time offenders, as well as impounding the vehicle.
Thuraya Al-Aareed, a member of the Shoura Council, said drifting drivers harm not only themselves but also the society.
Al-Areed believes that the decision will have an immediate effect on car drifters, and that it is bound to lessen the risk posed by drifting.
“We recommended to the security committee to correct the traffic situation and regulations, especially with regard to drifting, because it has serious consequences for the family and the safety of the society.”
She said the penalties are commensurate with the crime and are deserved because “drifting is not a new crime, and is a negative practice”.
Social studies attributed the practice of drifting to youth, to unemployment and to excessive leisure time and lack of recreational centers, but the country’s social and economic development efforts have focused on providing youth with alternative sources of entertainment and activities.
According to the new Cabinet decision, for the first offense, the car would be impounded for 15 days, the driver would be fined SR20,000 and would be referred to court to determine the jail sentence.
Second time offenders would be fined SR40,000, their cars would be impounded for a month and the driver is referred to court.
Third time violators would be fined SR60,000, the car would be impounded, and the court would look into confiscating the vehicle permanently.
Penalties against “drifting” had been raised in the past to SR1,000 for first offense, SR1,500 for second offense, and SR2,000 for third offense, plus other penalties, depending on the circumstances.
A 2014 study by Aramco revealed that financial losses from traffic accidents in the Kingdom amount to SR14 billion. During that year, there were 57,000 injuries, up from 48,156 cases in 2009.
The study predicted that deaths from traffic accidents in the Kingdom in 2019 will rise to 9,604. In 2013, the number of people who dead from traffic accidents in the Kingdom rose by 0.3 percent, up from 7,638 in 2012.