Traffic Law in Saudi Arabia

The Traffic Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a set of legal rules aimed at regulating traffic movement and road use in the Kingdom. It defines traffic violations that warrant penalties and outlines the procedures for issuing driving licenses, vehicle operation permits, and vehicle registration.

The Traffic Law was issued in 2007 and underwent amendments to some of its articles in 2016 and 2018. Further revisions to its articles and clauses were made between 2022 and 2024. This law replaced the Traffic Law issued in 1971 and its amendments, and it annulled any provisions that conflict with it.

The Traffic Law in the Kingdom consists of eighty-five articles, organized into eight sections, some of which are further divided into chapters. The sections are: definitions, vehicle weights, driving licenses, traffic and road rules (including driving vehicles and animals, road use, meeting and overtaking, turning and lane changes, right of way, speed limits, use of horns, parking and stopping, lighting and signaling, and traffic signs), registration, plates, and technical inspection (including vehicle registration and driving permits, license plates, and technical inspection: mechanical examination), required vehicle equipment (such as brakes, lights, and various devices), vehicle size, load, and weight, violations (including violation reporting procedures, penalties, and resolution procedures), and accidents (including investigation procedures, liability determination, penalties, and final provisions). The law also includes annexed tables that outline categories of violations, additional measures that may be taken in response, fees for various types of vehicle driving permits, and fees for different types of driving licenses.

The Traffic Law in the Kingdom establishes road traffic rules and imposes penalties on those who violate them, whether they are car or motorcycle drivers. Key rules for vehicle drivers include giving right of way exclusively to emergency vehicles and official convoys during the performance of official duties, with the drivers of these vehicles required to operate them in a manner that ensures the safety of others. Additionally, both drivers and passengers must wear seat belts, and child seats must be used when driving on the roads. Drivers are also required to keep to the right side of the road. The traffic rules require motorcycle drivers and their passengers to wear helmets, according to conditions specified by the law's regulations.

The Traffic Law in the Kingdom classifies traffic accidents into two categories: minor traffic accidents, which result in damage to private or public property but do not cause injuries requiring emergency medical treatment, and major traffic accidents, which involve loss of life, injuries requiring emergency medical treatment, or both, as well as severe property damage. The law clarifies the circumstances in which liability arises in accidents, particularly when caused by negligence, lack of caution, or failure to observe regulations. The law outlines the basic instructions that a vehicle driver must follow if involved in an accident. The driver is required to stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident, promptly report the incident to the relevant authorities, and assist those injured in the accident. The law specifies penalties ranging from imprisonment to fines in cases where the driver fails to comply with these principles.

The law establishes several violations that apply to workshop owners, workers, or others when making any modifications to the external body of a vehicle, such as altering its exterior appearance, color, dimensions, weight, or engine power, without prior authorization from the relevant authority as specified by the regulations.

The Traffic Law requires drivers to obtain a driving license, subject to the conditions outlined in the law's regulations. Drivers must carry their licenses while operating a vehicle, and law enforcement officers have the right to inspect it without confiscating it.

The law categorizes driving licenses into a general driving license, a private driving license, a public works vehicle driving license, and a motorcycle driving license.

The Traffic Law in the Kingdom mandates that the Ministry of Interior establish a Supreme Traffic Council. Its formation is determined by a Royal Decree, which outlines its duties and responsibilities. The council serves as the highest authority overseeing traffic affairs and is responsible for establishing general traffic policies.

The Traffic Law grants the competent court the authority to hear cases filed against individuals who violate the provisions of this law or its regulations, and to review appeals against decisions made by the relevant authority or any entity responsible for enforcing the provisions of the law or its regulations. The Traffic Law allows the competent court to suspend the enforcement of penalties.

It also grants the courts the authority to settle disputes and handle traffic accident cases. Violators have the right to appeal a violation before the competent court within thirty days from the date they are notified of the violation. The court may consider an appeal after this period if the appellant presents an acceptable excuse. If the allotted time for filing an appeal passes without an appeal, or if the court rejects the appeal, or issues a ruling adjusting the fine amount for the recorded violation, the violator must pay the fine within fifteen days. The violator may, within this period, submit a request for an extension of up to ninety days to pay the fine. If the violator does not pay within the specified period, the authorities are permitted to seize and execute the violator's bank accounts directly, according to a mechanism established by the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Finance, the Saudi Central Bank, and the Board of Grievances. The Ministry of Interior, in agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministerial Committee for Traffic Safety, determines the violations that are exempt from direct seizure and execution and that do not pose a threat to public safety. It is also permissible to pay the traffic fine for a single violation in installments, and the fine may be reduced by up to 25 percent of its minimum value.

The Traffic Law specifies the penalty for drifting. For the first offense, the violator's vehicle is impounded for fifteen days, and they are fined SAR20,000. The violator is then referred to the competent court to consider the application of imprisonment. The vehicle is impounded for one month, and the violator is fined SAR40,000 for the second offense, after which they are referred to the court to consider applying imprisonment. For the third offense, the vehicle is impounded, and the violator is fined SAR60,000, after which they are referred to the court to consider either confiscating the vehicle or imposing a fine equivalent to the vehicle’s value in the case of a rented or stolen vehicle, in addition to imprisonment.

The Traffic Law assigns a specific number of points for each violation, based on the severity of the violation's impact on public safety. These points are recorded in the offender's record, and the driving license is revoked if the maximum allowed points are exceeded. The fine for delayed renewal of driving licenses and vehicle registration is set at SAR100 for each year or part thereof, with a maximum fine of SAR300. The fine is applied after a sixty-day grace period from the license's expiration date.