Kuwaiti roads have recently been equipped with smart traffic cameras to improve safety for motorists, according to a ministry official.

According to Lieutenant General Tawheed Al-Kandari, Director General of Relations and Security Information, these high-sensitivity cameras can detect drivers using mobile phones while driving, a major cause of accidents, as well as speeding and violating light signs. Unhallowed turns are also caught on the new cameras.

Lieut. Gen. Al-Kandari affirmed that application of the state-of-art cameras would help in decreasing accidents that inflict losses in materials and souls.

Dr. Badr Al-Rajhi, a law professor at Kuwait University, said they would be quite useful in deterring violators and reducing accident fatalities.

In spite of this, he believes that adherence to the law is the "guarantee for our traffic security and safety on the roads." He also agrees that using a mobile phone while driving is a primary cause of accidents, advising both drivers and riders to buckle up.

According to his peer at the Faculty of Law, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Enezi, motorists must adhere to ethics and a sense of responsibility toward people's safety rather than simply paying tickets.

Nonetheless, this type of camera will be useful for enhancing traffic safety and instilling a sense of fear among drivers.

Recently, the MoI announced the installation of 6-generation cameras on roads and at some public locations to monitor illegal use of mobile devices while driving, failure to wear a seat belt, illegal turns or driving backwards.

According to MOI statistics, there were 3.4 million traffic violations between January 1 and November 30 of 2022. One hundred and seventy lives were lost in accidents, with lack of focus among drivers being the primary factor.