The validity period of private driving licenses has been extended to a period of 10 years from the existing five years, said Director of Traffic Department Maj. Gen. Fahd Bin Saud Al-Bishr, at a press conference here. In the press conference held at the headquarters of the Traffic Department, in Riyadh, Al-Bishr said a Royal Decree was issued on the new traffic regulations, which extends the validity of private driving licenses to 10 years and raises the driving license fees to SR400, from the existing SR75. The regulation specifies the validity period for motorbike licenses also as 10 years and for other vehicles as five years. The validity period for foreign international driving licenses has been specified as one year from the date the holder enters the Kingdom. The new traffic regulation also imposes penalties on violations such as throwing garbage or cigarette butts on the street. Al-Bishr said that as per the new regulation each traffic violation will have certain points depending on the level of danger of the violation to public safety, and these points will be registered in the violator's record. The driving license would be withheld when it reaches the specified number of points. This period will be for four months, six months or one year or it can be withdrawn for ever or the motorist will have to attend a driving school. The regulation gives the Minister of Interior the right to allow the establishment of national non-government societies to create awareness among the citizens and put a limit to road accidents. The new traffic regulation will boost the relations between the traffic police, the motorist and citizens in general as it strives to achieve safety on the roads, Al
