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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 9: The Ministry of Interior has reaffirmed that giving priority to emergency and government vehicles on the road is both a legal obligation and a humanitarian responsibility, warning motorists of strict penalties for violations.

In an awareness message, the Ministry explained that “making way” means allowing emergency vehicles—including police patrols, ambulances, firefighting units, civil defense vehicles, and official convoys, along with their affiliated vehicles—to pass quickly and safely once their audible and visual warning signals are activated, without obstruction or delay.

The Ministry outlined the correct procedure for motorists upon hearing sirens, urging drivers to immediately reduce speed, gradually move to the right side of the road, and stop at the roadside if necessary to ensure a clear passage.

The Ministry further stressed that failure to comply with these instructions constitutes a punishable offense under the law. Violators face imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a fine ranging between 150 and 300 Kuwaiti dinars, or one of the two penalties. The same penalties apply to motorists who misuse emergency sirens by following government vehicles to overtake other cars.

The Ministry of Interior emphasized that cooperation with emergency vehicles is vital to ensure their rapid arrival at incident sites and to protect lives, reiterating that adherence to traffic regulations directly contributes to public safety for all road users.