Connect with us

Latest News

‘No place for us’: E-scooter riders call for safer streets and dedicated lanes

Published

on

KUWAIT: With growing concerns over e-scooter safety, authorities are considering new regulations under Kuwait’s updated traffic law to govern their use, a source from the ministry of interior told Kuwait Times. The proposed rules will outline usage guidelines, mandatory protective gear and operating conditions. This move follows the shift of e-scooters from a recreational activity to a primary mode of transportation, especially among expatriates. Despite a ban on e-scooters on Kuwait’s roads since 2020, many riders continue to use them on streets ill-equipped for such vehicles due to the lack of adequate sidewalks.

According to the source, upcoming urban development plans will include dedicated e-scooter and bicycle lanes in newly constructed areas. Until then, e-scooter users must rely on caution and adaptability — often at the risk of their safety. For Albert, a Filipino expatriate, using an e-scooter is a necessity rather than a choice. With Kuwait’s minimum salary requirement of KD 600 for a driver’s license — excluding only certain professions — owning a car is not feasible. He takes extra precautions when riding on main roads.

“There’s no place for us on the road, so we have to be extra cautious and stay to the side,” said Albert, who has relied on an e-scooter for nearly five years, starting during the COVID lockdown. Public transportation isn’t always a reliable option, he added. “The traffic jams make me late to work.” Haitham, an Egyptian expatriate, prefers using an e-scooter for its time-saving convenience, often traveling from Salmiya to Hawally. He tries to avoid high-risk areas and opts for safer routes whenever possible. Another rider, an Indian expat who has used an e-scooter for over a year, stressed the importance of vigilance. “I always check carefully before turning right or left,” he said.

Despite individual precautions, e-scooter users face significant dangers on the road. Research shows a sharp rise in micromobility-related injuries worldwide. A University of California, San Francisco study published in JAMA Network Open revealed that e-scooter injuries increased by 45 percent, from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022. Regionally, Dubai Police reported 254 e-scooter and bicycle accidents in 2024 alone, resulting in 10 fatalities and 259 injuries — 17 of them severe. Rising safety concerns have already prompted regulatory action elsewhere, including Paris’ 2023 ban on rental e-scooters following a spike in injuries and deaths.

In Kuwait, where e-scooters are gaining popularity despite the lack of dedicated infrastructure, riders are advocating for safer conditions. Judy, 48, from the Philippines, noted that more people from various nationalities are adopting e-scooters and believes change is overdue. “We hope to have a special lane for us on the side so it will be safer,” she said. Haitham echoed her sentiments, adding: “I wish there were dedicated lanes for scooters and pedestrians, like next to Marina Mall.”

A recent study by Sharaf AlKheder and Zahra Albaghli from Kuwait University, titled Identifying Barriers and Benefits of Shared E-Scooters in Promoting Sustainability in Kuwait, highlights further challenges e-scooter users face. The study identifies the absence of vehicle registration as a key issue, leading to unregulated use, difficulty tracking ownership and challenges in enforcing traffic laws. Other safety risks include illegal parking on sidewalks and the lack of essential features like seatbelts or airbags.

Additionally, the lack of age restrictions raises concerns, allowing children to ride e-scooters unsupervised and increasing accident risks. The absence of dedicated traffic signs for scooter riders and poorly integrated scooter paths further undermine safety. Addressing these concerns in the upcoming regulations will not only improve road safety but also legitimize e-scooters as a practical mode of transport. With proper infrastructure and clear guidelines, Kuwait can ensure safer, more sustainable micromobility integration — protecting riders and pedestrians alike.

Latest News

Kuwait Commerce Min.: Protecting industrial system is Nat’l responsibility

Published

on

By

 KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”

Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”

No Image

Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.

He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.

The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.

Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA

 

Continue Reading

Latest News

Human Rights Committee session begins with focus on Gaza, regional challenges

Published

on

By

CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.

Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.

Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.

Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA

Continue Reading

Latest News

Crown Prince receives Egyptian Deputy PM

Published

on

By

KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, Lieutenant General Kamel Abdulhadi Al-Wazir, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their official visit to the country. The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan and Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait Osama Shaltout.– KUNA photos

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 SKUWAIT.COM .