The Riyadh traffic department issued 2.78 million traffic fines last year, an 11 percent increase from the 2.46 million tickets issued the year before.

A total of 421,535 tickets were issued for drivers not wearing seatbelts, 298,876 for parking incorrectly, 221,405 for speeding inside the city, 187,823 for driving without a license, 145,979 for using a mobile phone while driving and 20,953 for crossing a red light.

Other fines were issued for turning in the middle of a street, driving against the traffic flow, concealing number plates, incorrect overtaking and joyriding.

The police seized 103,784 cars compared to 87,682 the year before.

Saudis were issued the most tickets at 1.8 million followed by expatriates at 949,351.

Col. Ali Al-Dibaikhi, director of Riyadh traffic police, said the number of tickets issued showed that the traffic department was serious about cracking down on offenders.

Al-Dibaikhi rejected accusations that the traffic police did not help citizens during the recent floods in Riyadh.

“The Riyadh traffic department was surprised by the amount of rain and flooding in the streets of the capital,” said Al-Dibaikhi.

Al-Dibaikhi said the traffic department was not responsible for the flooding in recently constructed tunnels, such as the Swaidi tunnel. “Contractors are at fault for the flaws and poor construction of the tunnels.”