New traffic law to take effect from Thursday

New changes in the traffic law comes into effect from December 31st and all motorists have been warned to exercise caution.

Gulf Times reports that according to the local Arabic daily Arrayah, The Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has finalized the executive regulations of Law No. 16 for 2015, which amended some provisions of Traffic Law No. 19 for 2007.

Law No. 16, which was issued by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in August this year, seeks to come down heavily on different types of traffic violations - such as speeding and illegal parking - through the imposition of more stringent penalties.

Under the new rules, the fine for parking vehicles at slots reserved for the handicapped has been raised from QR500 to QR1,000. The same applies to overtaking from the right. 

Also the new law stipulates that the licenses of motorists who exceed the speed limit will incur negative points on a proportionate basis.

A driver who exceeds the speed limit by 30km/h will incur one negative point and those by 40km/h two points, 50km/h three points and 60km/h four points. 

Also, parking at slots reserved for the handicapped will incur three negative points.

To prevent motorists from leaving their cars at non-designated spots, the new law states that vehicles should not be left on public roads in a manner that may endanger the lives of others or their property, or delay or impede traffic movement. 

Besides, no obstacles or anything that could block traffic or impede pedestrians or road works are to be left on the road without a written permission from the Licensing Authority. 

Furthermore, a vehicle may be impounded by being driven or towed to the yard , and no responsibility will be shouldered by the authorities for any damage caused during the process of transferring it to the designated place. 

The impounded vehicle will not be handed over to its owner until the matter is settled and the incurred fees, fines and expenses are paid. If the owner does not show up to claim the impounded vehicle within three months, the authorities will sell the vehicle in a public auction.

As per the new rules, motorists who are fined for flouting traffic laws can get a 50% reduction on certain offences if they pay up within 30 days of the violation being registered.

However, the discount does not apply to 37 types of traffic violations and motorists will have to pay the full amount if they commit any of these offences.

These include illegal parking in handicapped slots, overtaking from the right, reckless driving, driving in an inebriated state, fleeing the site of an accident and giving a vehicle to a person who does not have a valid driving license. 

Other violations for which the discount cannot be availed include racing with vehicles on public roads without obtaining a proper written license from the authorities concerned, driving a vehicle without a valid and appropriate license and unauthorized modifications to the shape, colour or number plates of a vehicle.

The amendment also extended the validity of road permits from two years to three years for new vehicles.

(Cover image courtesy: Muhammad Kamran Qureshi)