Iraq's traffic directorate warns drivers against holding licenses mismatched to vehicle class

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's General Directorate of Traffic has announced penalties for drivers who hold licenses not matched to their vehicle class, according to a statement by Director General Major General Dr. Adiy Samir published in the official gazette. The official said the traffic plan is based on a filtering principle aimed at identifying improperly licensed drivers, with enforcement concentrated on outer roads where high-speed travel is common. Samir said fatigue and drowsiness have increased accidents on those routes, and fixed traffic points have been deployed on outer roads to warn drivers. He added that the plan includes a flow-regulation method in which traffic personnel move ahead of convoys in single-lane, one-way formations, with speeds adjusted to road conditions. The directorate is also monitoring traffic overnight because pedestrians crossing at transit points largely travel at night to avoid the heat, Samir said. Modern radar units have been positioned along the Zarbatiya road, where traffic teams escort vehicles and conduct speed checks. The plan also covers the separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in areas experiencing heavy visitor density, according to the statement.