KUWAIT CITY, May 19:  Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hamoud recently issued a ministerial decree to amend some stipulations of Traffic Law number 81/1976.
In a press statement Thursday, the Ministry of Interior disclosed the decision includes the amendment of Articles 109, 117, 118, 119, 120 and 121 of Law Number 81/76 as follows:

Article 109 - Those who want to obtain a license to teach driving must meet the following conditions:

• They should have a general driving license.
• Teachers should be fluent in written and spoken Arabic and English, while the trainers are required only to speak both languages.
• They should have a good reputation without any record of involvement in capital offense, image distortion crime, fatal traffic accident and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• They must pass tests on driving, traffic rules, regulations and conduct, basics of vehicle mechanics and the competence to teach.

Meanwhile, a license issued to the teacher or trainer will no longer be valid if he or she stops working with the company or institution that applied for the license on his or her behalf.
As an exemption, a Kuwaiti who wants to teach his immediate family and relatives can obtain a driving teacher’s license, if he has been holding a general driving license for at least five years.

Article 117 — Without touching the stipulations of law number 32/1969 referred herein, a permit must be obtained from the concerned authority at the General Traffic Department for the establishment or administration of a driving school or institution.  The department has the authority to supervise and inspect the school or institution.  The owners and managers of the school or institution must be of good conduct and reputation, and have no previous capital offense records or involvement in image distortion and betrayal of trust cases.

Article 118 — Application forms for obtaining a permit to establish a driving school or institution should be submitted to the concerned office at the General Traffic Department with the following:

•  Proof of the applicant’s identity, residence, criminal record; or of the manager, if he is not the owner.
•  Simplified plan of the location of the school and the institution, and the facilities of the building.
• Details of vehicles, equipment and facilities needed to offer driving lessons.
• Curricula for teaching and training.
• Names of the manager, teachers and trainers, in addition to the list of new employees and those that are resigning with the reason for resignation.
• Records of training applicants in the school must be maintained.

Article 119 — The following are required for the establishment or administration of a driving school or institution:

• A trade license from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to commence activities.
• A detailed curriculum approved by the concerned authority at the General Traffic Department.  The school or institution must fully abide by the approved curriculum, and it should be equipped with the necessary teaching facilities.
• Not less than 10 vehicles for the commencement of teaching activities.
• Vehicles must not be more than three years from the production date during licensing to be used for driving lessons.  Saloon cars must not be licensed for more than seven years from the date of production, while other types of vehicles should be licensed for 10 years.
• Vehicles must be furnished with steering wheel, brake, ignition facilities for learning by field specialists and approved by the General Traffic Department.
• Clear and bold signs must be put on both sides of the vehicle and at the back to show that it is being used for driving lessons.
• A sign board on top of the vehicle that shows it is designed for driving lessons in accordance to the regulations specified by the concerned authority at the General Traffic Department.
• One or maximum of two trainers must be inside the vehicle. They should hold secondary school certificates or their equivalent, a general driving license issued five years ago, and a teaching license from the concerned authority at the General Traffic Department.
• One teacher or more must be appointed and they should hold at least a diploma certificate for completion of a two-year course after finishing secondary school or its equivalent.  They must have thorough knowledge of traffic rules, regulations, conduct and bylaws. Teachers and trainers are not allowed to work in more than one driving school and institution.

After completion of the training, the school or institution must issue the trainee a certificate of completion, affirming his readiness to undergo the necessary tests at the concerned authority in the General Traffic Department.

The period for teaching driving should be from sunrise to sunset.  Driving lessons should be conducted only in areas or roads specified by the concerned authority at the General Traffic Department.  Training vehicles must not be used for other purposes.

Article 120 — Licenses will be issued only after the concerned authority at the General Traffic Department completed inspection of the school premises, affiliated offices of the company, training vehicles, facilities and equipment, thorough review of the curriculum and its approval, and affirming the availability of all requirements.

Existing schools, offices, companies or institutions must provide all the requirements mentioned herein within six months from the date of the publication of this decree in the official gazette.

Article 121 —
Clause 1:  The director general of the General Traffic Department has the right to ask the minister of Commerce and Industry to cancel the license of any company or institution found to have violated any stipulation in this decree or the traffic regulations.
Clause 2:  The ministry undersecretary must implement this decree starting from the day of its publication in the official gazette.