Saudi Arabia: Up to 900 SR fine for using a mobile phone while driving

Using a mobile phone while driving is a “reckless act” and a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to 900 Saudi riyals, Saudi Arabia’s transport authority said. “Using a mobile phone while driving is an indiscreet behavior that puts the driver and others at risk of an accident,” the agency said. Such violations are said to be punished with a fine ranging from 500 to 900 SR. Authorities also said that driving a vehicle with illegible or damaged license plates constituted a traffic violation, punishable by a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 riyals.

Saudi media has recently reported a number of fatal accidents. In early August, six members of a Saudi family were killed in a car accident on a road between the holy city of Medina and Mahad province. One student was killed and 24 others were injured when a bus carrying college students collided with a car in downtown Brayday in May, the University of Brayday said.

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In March, 21 Umrah pilgrims were killed and 29 injured when a vehicle overturned in the southwestern area of ​​Asir. annual fee Saudi authorities have stepped up penalties for traffic violations in recent years to reduce traffic accidents. Road deaths have fallen by around 35% in the five years since 2016.

The annual cost of traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be approximately SAR 11.7 billion. According to official figures, there were around 9,420 accidents in UK cities last year, compared with 7,542 abroad. A total of 4,555 people were killed in these accidents. The report, based on the findings of the road safety ministerial committee, showed that male drivers were faster than female drivers in these crashes.