The Interior of Ministry in Riyadh has recently sent a serious warning for all motorists out there – stop using your cellphones while driving or you will be jailed for a day.
In a news report posted by ArabNews.com, Col. Abdulaziz Al-Luhaidan, head of the commission for the development of traffic bodies, made the announcement official during a radio program last Monday. So far, 60 drivers have already been penalized this month for the violation said Al-Luhaidan. Drivers were put in jail for 24 hours as a consequence of using their phones on the road.
Al-Luhaidan also mentioned that there would also be strict penalties for speedsters. In fact, he pointed out that drivers who go more than 160 kph on the road can even have their licenses suspended.
Al-Luhaidan went as far as saying that nobody has the right to overturn the rulings of the commission – even the head of the ministry’s Public Security division.
The commission, according to Al-Luhaidan, emphasized that the commission can issue rulings on 72 traffic violations – 11 of which are related with public safety and can result to a violator’s imprisonment. Among the violations included are “running on red lights, driving in the wrong side, driving under the influence, stunt driving, and obscuring number plates,” reported ArabNews.
On the other hand, Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Rasheedi, spokesman of the traffic police, added that a driver found overspeeding will receive three text messages, after which they will be required to appear at the traffic office. This means overspeeding drivers will not be allowed to pay their fines through the ATM or online. They will really have to visit the traffic office and face the consequences.
“If the person fails to appear at the given date and time, the department will automatically suspend all his traffic services, and slap a penalty,” warned Al-Rasheedi.