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The General Directorate of Traffic has clarified regulations for right turns at red lights, requiring drivers to stop completely before turning to confirm the intersection is clear and to yield to oncoming vehicles. If a triangular marking appears at the corner of the intersection, the turn must occur before reaching it, according to the department’s guidance issued Monday. Turning after the triangle is treated as a red light violation, the directorate stated in its public explanation. This rule forms part of efforts to standardize driver behavior at signalized junctions nationwide.
Drivers must remain in the right lane prior to turning when the road is a main artery without an accompanying service road, the General Directorate of Traffic reported. In cases where both a main road and service road exist, the turn should be executed onto the service road while staying in the right lane beforehand. The department emphasized these lane disciplines to maintain orderly traffic flow and minimize collision risks at intersections. Such specifications derive from the kingdom’s official traffic rules administered by the Ministry of Interior.
The Saudi Traffic Department prohibits right turns when a flashing red arrow or a “No Right Turn” sign is displayed alongside a red traffic light. Violations under these conditions are classified as running a red light, according to the directorate’s reiterated instructions. Motorists must observe these signals strictly to avoid penalties and ensure safety for all road users. The General Directorate of Traffic has issued similar clarifications in prior years to address recurring driver confusion on this point.
Running a red light carries a fine of SR3,000 to SR6,000 under the Traffic Law’s violation schedule, with the exact amount depending on the specific circumstances of the case, Ministry of Interior figures show. This places the offense among the more serious traffic violations listed in the official schedule maintained by the General Directorate of Traffic. The penalty structure aims to deter dangerous maneuvers that endanger pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. Data from the ministry’s traffic regulations confirm that failing to stop at a red light falls into a high-priority enforcement category.
The clarification aligns with broader provisions in Saudi Arabia’s Traffic Law, which the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers published and which enumerates red light running as a key violation requiring enforcement by designated authorities. The General Directorate of Traffic oversees implementation of these rules, including electronic services for checking and appealing penalties. Repeated public reminders from the department highlight how such offenses contribute to intersection accidents across major cities. Compliance with these standards supports the ministry’s ongoing road safety initiatives.
Traffic authorities first detailed these exact right-turn parameters in statements dating back to at least 2017, when the directorate’s then-spokesman outlined the stop-first requirement and triangle boundary in comments carried by local outlets. The current reiteration on August 31 reinforces the unchanged nature of the rules while addressing persistent questions from drivers. The General Directorate of Traffic continues to use digital platforms to disseminate such guidance and promote adherence to signalized intersection protocols throughout the kingdom.
