Mid-street chatting motorists who block the flow of traffic face stringent penalty.

In a tough warning, Jeddah police have stated that motorists who obstruct traffic to chat with one another will be severely dealt with, including confiscation of vehicles.

As part of the intensified campaign, police patrols are being stepped up on the main streets and junctions, and the entrances of markets and shopping malls to prevent such practices.

Traffic police in Jeddah fined 100 people last month for hindering traffic flow. Zaid Al-Hamzi, spokesman at Jeddah Traffic Department, told Arab News that stopping in the middle of the road will lead to a SR500 fine and/or confiscation of vehicles for 15 days.

Some drivers grab the opportunity of seeing a friend and engage with them in a conversation in the middle of the street disregarding others’ rights to pass.

Al-Hamzi said violators included young men and teenagers.

Khaled Al-Sayeed complained that some motorists don’t like even to hear that they are blocking the road.

“They look at you with contempt as if you have cut their trail of thought ... They don’t have any feeling of remorse,” he said.

Mohammed Khader, an elderly motorist, said that the “alarming” behavior is not confined to inner city streets, but also includes Jeddah-Makkah and Jeddah-Madinah highways.