Kuwait Times, Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023 | Sha'ban 22, 1444
Driving license, inspection rules to be toughened
Kuwait:
The traffic department at the interior ministry is
preparing new regulations for granting expatriates driving licenses, which will
be submitted to the interior minister after the formation of the new government
for approval.
“The new conditions include increasing the minimum salary requirement for
expatriates applying for a driving license. Moreover, only certain professions
will be allowed to obtain a driving license,” sources said, indicating these
conditions aim to reduce traffic congestion on the streets, which traffic
studies claim is due to the large number of expatriate motorists.
“Moreover, large number of expatriates who work in basic professions and use
vehicles benefit from the lenient conditions for obtaining a driving license
compared to conditions applied in neighboring countries,” sources added.
“Other decisions will be issued by the traffic department related to the
technical inspection of vehicles, which may prevent the registration of more
than 20,000 vehicles over 15 years old. The traffic department has found many
loopholes in how these vehicles obtain technical inspection approval,” sources
explained.
“The participation of the Environment Public Authority in the examination of
vehicles with the traffic department, if implemented in a comprehensive manner,
can permanently remove such vehicles from use. Otherwise, their owners will be
subject to traffic fines and insurance will not be granted for them,” sources
added.