The Riyadh Traffic Department (RTD) has arrested 2,357 motorists over the past week for various traffic violations, including the use of cell phones while driving, reckless driving and running the red light.

According to the RTD weekly report released this week, police have also detained 38 drifters and 78 people who created fan crowding at various sites. A total of 63 cars used by drifters were also confiscated during the same period.

The report said that the RTD registered 25,395 traffic violations, of which 6,664 tickets were issued for parking in the wrong place, 4,342 tickets for window-tinting, 3,975 tickets for running red lights and 3,417 for speeding, while 3,388 tickets given for cell phone use, 2,105 for driving without a license and 1,504 for driving on the opposite lane.

“The RTD constantly deploys teams on the ground and is committed to its campaigns, which aim to raise the level of awareness and traffic discipline,” said Col. Hasan Al-Hasan, department spokesman.

He said the campaign's focus is on catching seat belt violators and drivers using cell phones while driving, speeding, running red lights and committing other traffic violations that affect public safety.

“The campaign targets 130 locations in the capital as part of a drive by field traffic management to raise awareness of road safety,” he said.

Al-Hasan said that a team had found a stolen Nissan vehicle with a Kuwaiti plate in the Naseem district.