SAUDI ARABIA

Social care homes ready for women traffic law violators

June 24, 2018
Women caught for serious violations of traffic rules or for causing accidents will be held at the social observation centers of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
Women caught for serious violations of traffic rules or for causing accidents will be held at the social observation centers of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH
— The Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) has confirmed that it is ready to receive female violators of the traffic law in its care homes for girls, Al-Madina newspaper reported.

Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on women driving in the country as of Sunday.

A source in the ministry said any women drivers caught violating traffic rules will be placed in the homes, which will serve as temporary detention centers.

“There will be special places built for violators of the traffic law. For now, there are seven observation homes in Riyadh, Makkah, the Eastern Province and Asir. The ministry is preparing five more homes in Madinah, Jazan, Tabuk, the Northern Borders and Al-Jouf,” said the source.

The source also said the ministry was trying to cover all provinces of the Kingdom.

“The ministry will be renting five buildings to turn them into traffic detention centers. All traffic law violators will be held separately from other inmates at these homes. The observation homes under the Ministry of Labor and Social Development are rehabilitation centers for women under 30 years old who are convicted of criminal cases,” said the source.

The source said the inmates are allowed to continue their education while being detained and would be enrolled in social rehabilitation programs that equip them with various skills and abilities that can help them make positive contributions to society.

Examples of violations that could lead to the detention of a female driver at the home include hit and runs, driving under the influence of intoxicants, drifting, driving in the opposite direction of the road, causing fatal accidents, running red lights and the use of cell phone while driving.

The Council of Ministers earlier this month approved a proposal by the Traffic Department that women drivers committing traffic violations be admitted to care homes and have their vehicles impounded.

According to the proposal, women below 30 years of age will be released from the homes only by a judge’s order while women above 30 years can leave the home once they serve their term.

The authorities said having a license does not give immunity to drivers. Once a driver is proved to be incompetent, she will be subjected to evaluation and her license will possibly be revoked until she gets proper training.

Director of Traffic Department Maj. Gen. Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Bassami said last month that men and women will be treated equally before the law.

He said women are working in the Traffic Department in monitoring violations, such as not fastening the seat belt and talking on a mobile phone while driving.


June 24, 2018
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