A Comprehensive Guide to the Wrong-Way Driving Violation in Saudi Arabia and Ways to Contest It

The wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia is considered one of the most dangerous traffic violations that drivers may commit, which results in many accidents, injuries, and damages. It means that the driver has taken the opposite direction of traffic on public roads; therefore, it was necessary for the specialized traffic authorities to take it into account.
This article from the Carli website answers the question of what the penalties and fines are that fall upon the wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia for citizens, residents, and visitors, and what the method is for paying the violation or contesting it.
The Value of the Wrong-Way Driving Violation in Saudi Arabia
The wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia is considered among the violations classified in the first category. It is estimated with a financial fine between 3,000 Saudi Riyals to 6,000 Saudi Riyals and does not exceed that. This violation is defined as driving cars in the opposite direction of the authorized flow for car traffic, which results in many accidents and problems on the road.
The violation leads to the deduction of five points from the driver’s own balance, and this is considered an additional penalty that will be discussed in detail in a later paragraph.
Steps to Inquire About the Wrong-Way Driving Violation in Saudi Arabia
Citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can inquire to find out information about the wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia through the electronic platform Absher. This is considered one of the simplest and easiest ways launched by the specialized traffic violation authorities in the Kingdom to facilitate matters for citizens and eliminate the need to go to physical headquarters. The inquiry method consists of the following points:
- Click on the website for the Absher platform for direct entry and follow the instructions.
- Log in to the platform by writing the ID number or writing the residency number (Iqama) and your password.
- After ensuring the login is correct, you will go to the main menu and choose the “My Services” (Khidmati) icon.
- From the “My Services” icon, you must choose “Traffic Services” from the sub-menu that appears before you now.
- From the sub-menu, click on the “Inquire about Traffic Violations” button.
- On the next page, all traffic violations related to the owned vehicle will appear before you.
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How to Contest Wrong-Way Driving Violations?
After confirming the existence of a wrong-way driving violation on your page on the Absher platform, you can also contest it through the platform via the following steps:
- Enter the Absher platform through this direct link to submit the contestation request.
- Log in to the platform to be able to complete the steps by writing the ID number for citizens or the residency number for residents and writing the password.
- Click on the main menu and choose the “My Services” icon.
- From the sub-menu, the “Traffic Services” icon appears; click on it.
- Then choose “Contest Traffic Violations.”
- All violations will appear; you must choose the violation you wish to contest and write the primary reason for contesting this violation clearly and accurately, and agree to all terms so it can be considered by the relevant responsible authorities.
- Click on the “Save” icon to send your contestation, and you will receive a confirmation message on your mobile clarifying that the contestation has been received.
Wait later for the response, either with the approval of the contestation and proof of an error in the existence of a traffic violation and its immediate cancellation, or rejection, which necessitates that you pay the wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia.
What are the Conditions for Contesting Through the Absher Electronic Platform?
There are a set of conditions that must be met to contest a wrong-way driving violation through the Absher electronic platform, which facilitates traffic procedures for residents and citizens. The conditions consist of the following points:
- You can contest the wrong-way driving violation within a period of 30 days from the registration of the violation; this period must not be exceeded as it is the permitted and approved period for contesting, and after this period expires, the contestation cannot be raised electronically.
- If a violation has been contested once and it has been considered by the specialized committee and a final decision has been issued regarding it, it cannot be contested again via the Absher platform because in this case, it is considered a mandatory and final decision.
- More than one contestation cannot be submitted at the same time electronically; the processing of the current contestation must end before submitting a new contestation request for another violation.
- If five contestations are rejected during a single Hijri year, electronic contesting cannot be done again in that year, in order to maintain the seriousness of the requests being submitted.

Paying the Wrong-Way Driving Violation in Saudi Arabia
After learning how to contest violations and the conditions of this contestation, what happens if the contestation request is rejected? In this case, there is nothing but paying the violation and following the laws. Among the most important ways to pay the violation are:
- You can pay the wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia by calling the mobile number 989, which is the known unified number for inquiry, and you must follow the instructions and learn the payment steps.
- You can pay the violation through your Visa from an ATM or through your bank application via the payment service, choosing the “Government Payments” icon and choosing the “Traffic Violations” button. Then, inquire by the violation number or the ID number of the person who wants to verify, and then all your violations will appear, and you can pay them immediately from the application.
- Also, the easiest way is to pay violations by heading to the Absher electronic platform.
How is the Wrong-Way Driving Violation Recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia is recorded through cameras specialized in monitoring traffic movement and also radars placed in various places for the safety of citizens. Monitoring is also done through traffic officers to maintain security and safety for citizens and residents.
Tips to Avoid the Wrong-Way Driving Violation
Citizens, residents, and also visitors are advised to adhere to traffic rules and laws for their safety and to avoid financial fines or penalties.
- It is necessary to drive in the correct direction of traffic movement.
- It is necessary to look at traffic signals and signs.
- It is necessary to adhere to all rules set by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the specialized authorities to maintain security and safety and to prevent accidents.
Impact of the Points Deduction System on the Driver’s Record in Saudi Arabia
The points deduction system affects the driver’s record negatively from several aspects, which are summarized in the following points:
- Deducting points leads to imposing higher insurance fees on cars, which leads to an increase in insurance costs and a negative financial impact on the driver.
- The points deduction system leads to the suspension of the driving license for a specific period that may reach a year for some cases, when a certain number of deducted points accumulate.
- If the old driving license expires, it becomes difficult to obtain a new license for the driver to whom the points deduction system was applied, so the freedom of movement is negatively affected.
- Impact on the chances of obtaining jobs related to driving or car rentals because this deduction shows the extent of the driver’s lack of responsibility and their susceptibility to accidents and problems.
When is the wrong-way driving violation issued in Saudi Arabia?
After recording the wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia via cameras and radars or a traffic officer, the violation is registered electronically and added to the Absher platform in a short period. The fine is registered within two to five days from the date of committing the traffic violation.
How much is the amount due to be paid for a wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia?
The amount due for payment for a wrong-way driving violation in Saudi Arabia is from 3,000 Saudi Riyals to 6,000 Saudi Riyals, as previously clarified by the Traffic Department via official accounts on electronic platforms.











