Kuwait: Speeding Foreigners Unwelcome

A new traffic law which ejects foreign traffic violators from the country, is creating waves in Kuwait. While one blogger asks what the fuss is about when other countries have already implemented similar rules, another argues that the new clampdown is too strict.

Forzaq8 tells those complaining about the new traffic law that they got what they wanted – after years of asking why Kuwait can’t be like the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Forzaq8 explains:

Who hasn’t heard this or some of its variations ?
” We want to be like the UAE ”
I’m totally sick of it , i hear it a lot , why not the USA ? or Japan ?
Well now we do something like the UAE and people are complaining

Fonzy thinks the law is unfair – with deportation being too strict a punishment. He notes:

I have full respect and completely support how the ministry is doing its best to impose traffic laws in Kuwait. But at times, I think they are overdoing it with the penalties. Just read an article on Arab Times about expats who fail to respect the traffic rules. Apparently, now they can be deported if they jump a red light and have previous traffic violations… in other words, 2 strikes and you’re out! (…)

(P)ersonally, I think deportation is too extreme. Fining them or jailing them was too much already. How about by revoking his license as a start.

Still on the topic of traffic, Buzberry posts a table of traffic violations and the fines they carry, while Marzouq of Z District is angry that officials closed off entire stretches of highways to traffic to ferry foreign officials attending a conference in the country.

An exasperated Marzouq explains:

There was no notification what so ever of this traffic or that the police were going to be blocking off roads. I read the newspapers and there was no mention of this, there is a meeting in Bayan Palace with people coming from out of state. This caused havoc on the roads of Kuwait for several hours, I hated being outside due to this hellish traffic. The usually 20 minute trip took me an hour and 10 minutes, and a 15 minute trip took one hour in the car. I went nuts sitting in a car going 10 kph, and knowing the traffic is being cause by the idiots who didn’t plan this out. They should have a fleet of helicopters to transport these dignitaries instead of causing over 7 hours worth of traffic without any warning.