Article 207 of the Traffic Law has been activated as of Wednesday, Nov 15. According to the article vehicles will be impounded for not more two months in addition to a fine if the motorist speaks on the phone while driving without the use of earphones and the same fine will be applicable if the passenger on the front seat and the driver does not use the seat belts.

The same penalty will be applied for motor bikers if they do not wear the crash helmets while riding.

According to sources, traffic statistics showed that the first eight hours after putting the new regulation into practice yesterday (from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm) witnessed the impoundment of 489 vehicles - 48 in Ahmadi governorate, 65 in the Capital, 80 in Hawally, 15 in Farwaniya governorate, 46 in Jahra, 40 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, 142 on highways and eight by a special police patrol.

The sources added that if the violating motorist is a woman, a senior citizen or if there is a family onboard, the vehicle will not be immediately impounded and the violator would instead be fined and blocked on traffic systems until he/she willingly hands in the vehicle for impoundment.