Drivers who exceed the speed limits in Riyadh face penalties on the day the offenses occur, which could include fines, imprisonment and confiscation of their cars, a top traffic official said on Thursday.

“They will be referred to a violations committee at the traffic office, which is operational 24 hours a day, to check their history and decide on the appropriate punishment,” said Col. Ali bin Abdullah Al-Debeikhi.

“The punishment might be a fine, temporary vehicle confiscation, or the detention of the driver. The nature of the punishment will depend on the violation, history of the driver and the level of speed,” he said.

Al-Debeikhi said he hoped this would reduce accidents in the capital.

According to traffic statistics, 30 percent of the country’s accidents occur in the capital, with 70 percent linked to speeding.