Egypt’s new traffic laws seek to curb car accidents

CAIRO – 12 August 2018: The Parliament’s Transportation Committee commends the new traffic law and confirms that it “will limit road accidents”.

The new traffic laws, which the Parliament will complete discussion on in the next session with the legislation of developed countries, “needs a favorable environment to be implemented, meaning that the particular use of technology is required,” said House Transport Committee deputy chair, Mohamed Abdullah Zain.

Zain added that the implementation of the new traffic laws depends on the use of technology and a reduction on the reliance of individuals.

He pointed out that the new law will combat the amount of road accidents because the law contains articles with penalties.

A recent report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed that 47.2 percent of road accidents are due to privately-owned cars. Out of a total of 17,200 car accidents in 2017, 8,814 privately-owned cars caused them.

The new law also dictates that if drivers are going at speeds greater than 50 kilometers per hour, article 79 will punish violators by deducting four points, imprisonment for three months and a fine between LE 3,000-4,000.

Moreover, non-compliance in staying on the right side in two-way roads, according to article 77, would cost the driver two points and a fine between LE 200 to 400.

The new traffic law is also going to be imposing a number of penalties on truck drivers, often sought as a prime source of accidents on the road, as per a security source. Speeding or causing traffic will cost the driver four points, imprisonment for three months, and a fine between four and eight thousand pounds. This is expected to limit the problems trucks can cause on the roads.

With respect to those under the influence of drugs, five points will be deducted and in the event of a traffic violation, there would be a fine between four to eight thousand pounds with imprisonment for not more than six months. They would later be required to pass a training course determining fitness conditions before obtaining the license.

As part of the “National Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”, Egypt is concerned about road safety and the levels of death and injuries it is causing.

“The Decade of Action for Road Safety,” that was officially proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2010, hopes to improve the roads and behavior of drivers, for the safety of everyone.

According to Egypt’s report by the World Health Organization (WHO), “Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of deaths and hospitalization in Egypt.” As of right now during the summer, young adults can often be victims of tragic car accidents on their way back and from seaside areas outside Cairo.

WHO also published a report in 2012 explaining that raising public awareness on speeding and seatbelt wearing, advocating for road safety and implanting penalties for not complying with traffic laws should be an approach for improving the situation.

Going back to the importance of technology, the report also explained that installing cameras and training police to use them would help in reducing speed levels on the road.