Saudi Arabia: Eight types of traffic accidents deemed major crimes

Abu Dhabi:

Abu Dhabi: Saudi judicial and traffic authorities said eight traffic accidents are deemed major crimes and the motorists involved will immediately be taken into custody and moved to the Public Prosecution for questioning and trial, local media repored.

The eight accidents are as follows:

First, an accident in which a driver was at fault and caused death;

Second, a driver was involved in an accident that caused the loss of an organ or the disruption of its benefit;

Third, a motorist was involved in an accident resulting in injury;

Fourth, if a driver of a vehicle was involved in hit-and-run accident;

Fifth, a motorist was involved in a traffic accident and failed to report it to the traffic department;

Sixth, a motorist was involved in a traffic accident, but failed to provide possible assistance to the injured;

Seventh, a driver was involved in a traffic accident, but replaced the driver of the vehicle who committed the accident;

Eighth, a motorist who was involved in fabricating a traffic accident.

The announcement was made after Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Muqbel, assistant undersecretary of the Public Prosecution for the investigation, and Major General Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Bassami , director of the Traffic Department, signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding dealing with the system for referring traffic cases to the Public Prosecution.

Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecution has said driving a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, narcotics, psychotropic substances, or drifting or driving in the opposite direction or jumping the red traffic light are considered major crimes, if they result in permanent or partial damage to an organ, or an injury that has a recovery period of more than a fortnight.

According to Article 62 of the Traffic Law, accidents that entail penalties are those that infringe upon the regulation or are excessive to the extent of resulting in the permanent or partial damage to an organ.

These are punishable by imprisonment for a maximum period of four years, and a fine not exceeding SR200,000, or either of the two.

The prosecution added that anyone responsible for a traffic accident resulting in an injury whose recovery period exceeds 15 days, shall face a maximum imprisonment of two years, and a fine not exceeding SR100,000, or any of these two penalties. The private right of the aggrieved party should be given due importance, the statement clarified.

And those whose actions caused the accident shall be referred to the judiciary — according to statutory procedures — to decide appropriate punishment while according due importance to the private rights.