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Your Guide to Egypt’s Point-System Traffic Law

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Your Guide to Egypt’s Point-System Traffic Law
written by
Cairo 360

There’s a new traffic law being implemented in town, and it’s going to change everything. We’ve all wondered about the irony of Egyptian traffic law, you see, one could get away with driving the wrong way in a small street, but could get a 50 EGP fine for not wearing a seat belt when traffic is making the car move less than 10 km/h. Perhaps things will change with this new system.

Only yesterday, we published an article on a study conducted on the number of accidents happening on Egyptian streets, and the causes behind those accidents as well as what we can learn from them. This system aims to change that tragedy, and perhaps improve our statistics.

The Point-System

The new traffic law is a point-system. Each driver starts with 50 points, and for every offence, a number of points will be deducted from their account, and they’ll receive a fine. If you run out of points, your license will be suspended for 30 days if it’s your first time in that year, 90 days for your second time, and 180 days for your third. In each case, your license will remain suspended until you complete a traffic course for 5 days, 10 days, or 25 days respectively.

The Offences

The offences are distributed into 5 categories, with each category being punishable by a certain number of points-deduction, and a certain range of a fine. The second category is probably where most of our traffic offences will lie. These are punishable by a two-point deduction and a fine ranging from 200 to 400 EGP. Such offences include:

  • Going over the speed limit by less than 10 km/h
  • Car driver, or any of its passengers not wearing a seat belt
  • Motorcycle driver, or any of its passengers not wearing a helmet
  • Using a mobile phone while driving
  • Driving in reverse in a way that creates danger for other drivers
  • Allowing children less than seven years of age to sit in the front seats, or children less than two years of age without an installed child seat in the rear seats
  • Installing car horns, headlights, or rear lights that do not match the original design of the vehicle
  • Misuse of car horns in a loud and annoying way, or in areas where its use is restricted
  • Writing, drawing, or adding posters or decorations on the vehicle, its windows, or inside the vehicle, that do not conform with the law
  • Not closing car doors when driving
  • Stopping or parking in restricted areas
  • Not driving in the right lane on two-way streets
  • Not giving right of way to drivers on the main road when coming from a side street
  • Merging on to a road before checking for passing cars
  • Stopping the vehicle on pedestrian crossings, in front of public transportation stops, in front of a yellow box, or in front a fire hydrant
  • Not using indicator lights when changing lanes, turning, stopping, or parking
  • Producing excessive air or noise pollution from the vehicle or its passengers
  • Over-taking in restricted areas or from the right side when not permitted
  • Parking in handicapped areas without a permit
  • Not abiding by the law in the process of transfer of ownership

 

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