Around 2,700 vehicles underwent technical inspections during the first hour of the winter traffic campaign, which began on Sunday morning, according to Brig. Raed Al-Assaf, director of the Traffic Department at the Public Security Directorate. He said the campaign will run for one month, with the possibility of extending it depending on weather conditions and developments on the ground.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking to Al-Mamlaka TV, Al-Assaf said the campaign began at 6 a.m., following a week of awareness activities. He noted that the Public Security Directorate had improved its procedures this year by introducing modern technologies and simplifying the inspection process.
He explained that the campaign would no longer use the stickers previously placed on vehicles that passed technical inspections. Instead, drivers will receive a text message as soon as the inspection is completed, informing them whether their vehicle passed or was found to have technical deficiencies.
Al-Assaf added that electronic connectivity between traffic enforcement devices in the field and the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department enables traffic officers to verify whether a vehicle has passed its technical inspection, without relying on stickers.
For vehicles found to have technical deficiencies, drivers will receive a notice giving them one week to address the issues. During this period, they can visit a Traffic Department section, the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department, or the External Patrols Department to have their vehicles reinspected.
He said drive-through inspection lanes had been established at the entrances to department sections, allowing drivers to have their vehicles inspected without getting out. Failure to return within the specified period will result in the notice being converted into a traffic violation. Inspections conducted as part of the campaign are free of charge.
Inspection services are available through traffic officers, external patrols and the Environmental Police, as well as at licensing department sections during official working hours and mobile licensing stations, including the Airport Road station. Comprehensive government service centers also provide vehicle inspections during their operating hours.
Al-Assaf noted that the Public Security Directorate had equipped the relevant patrols with trained technical specialists to handle vehicles requiring specialized inspections.
He urged drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and improve their driving skills in winter weather, particularly when visibility is reduced by fog, rain or snow. He also stressed the importance of using appropriate lights and maintaining a safe distance between vehicles to reduce the risk of accidents and protect lives and property.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
