Article 54 of the Saudi Traffic Law
المادة 54 من نظام المرور · الباب الخامس: قواعد السير على الطرق
The article gives priority of passage to emergency vehicles while carrying out their duties and to official convoys, but does not relieve their drivers from driving in a way that ensures the safety of others.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أفضلية المرور لمركبات الطوارئ أثناء مباشرة مهماتها، والمواكب الرسمية ، ولا يعفى سائقوها من القيادة بما يضمن سلامة الغير.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 54 explained in plain English
This article regulates priority of passage, that is, the right to pass before others, for two categories:
- Emergency vehicles while carrying out their duties: the priority is tied to actually performing a mission, not merely to being an emergency vehicle.
- Official convoys.
This means that other road users must let these vehicles pass before them.
But the article sets an important limit: the drivers of these vehicles are not relieved from driving in a way that ensures the safety of others. Priority does not mean that the driver of an emergency vehicle or convoy may drive without regard to those around them; they remain required to drive in a way that protects the safety of others.
The article does not define emergency vehicles, nor does it specify how to make way for them.
This article comes within the rules of traffic on roads, alongside Article 53, which makes the direction of traffic on roads the right-hand side, and Article 55, which requires pedestrians to walk in the places designated for them as set by the Implementing Regulations.
If an accident occurs with an emergency vehicle and a dispute arises over responsibility, you can consult a lawyer specializing in traffic accident cases.
Practical example
An ambulance in Jeddah was carrying an injured person to the hospital and approached a congested intersection. The ambulance has priority of passage because it is carrying out its mission, so drivers must let it pass first, but the ambulance driver himself remains required to drive in a way that ensures the safety of drivers and pedestrians as he crosses the intersection.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 54 of Traffic Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Compensation & Traffic Accidents lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Compensation & Traffic Accidents lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Isnad Al-Anzima Law Firm
Al-Madinah Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 54 of the Saudi Traffic Law
Does an ambulance always have priority of passage?
Priority belongs to emergency vehicles while carrying out their duties, and also to official convoys.
Is the driver of an emergency vehicle relieved of responsibility for safe driving?
No. The article provides that their drivers are not relieved from driving in a way that ensures the safety of others.
More articles on Rules of the Road
- Article 11
The article requires the vehicle license to be in the vehicle while it travels, lets a security officer ask to see it, and bars him from retaining it.
يجب أن تكون رخصة سير المركبة موجودة بها أثناء سيرها، ولرجل الأمن حق طلب إبرازها للاطلاع عليها، وليس له حجزها.
- Article 30
The article requires a trailer, or a broken-down vehicle when it is towed, to be fitted with rear and side lights or reflectors that allow it to be seen.
يجب تزويد المقطورة ، أو المركبة المتعطلة - عند سحبها - بأنوار أو عاكسات خلفية وجانبية تسمح برؤيتها.
- Article 31
The article requires large vehicles, such as trucks, buses and public works vehicles, and animal-drawn vehicles to be fitted with lights or reflective strips at the rear and on both sides.
يجب تزويد المركبات الكبيرة، كالشاحنات والحافلات ومركبات الأشغال العامة، وتلك التي تجرها الحيوانات ؛ بأنوار إضاءة أو شرائح عاكسة توضع في المؤخرة وعلى جانبي هذه ا
- Article 33
The article requires the driver to carry a valid driving license when driving a vehicle, lets a security officer ask to see it, and bars him from retaining it.
يجب على السائق أن يحمل رخصة قيادة سارية المفعول عند قيادته للمركبة، ولرجل الأمن حق طلب إبرازها للاطلاع عليها، وليس له حجزها.
- Article 51
The article makes road signs, reflectors, and signposts attached to the law part of it, and requires drivers to comply with them and with instructions from the competent authorities in accordance with the law and its regulations.
تعد علامات الطريق و العاكسات و الشاخصات الملحقة بهذا النظام جزءا منه، ويجب على السائق التقيد بها وبالتعليمات الصادرة من الجهات المختصة، وفقا لأحكام هذا النظام و
- Article 52
The article prohibits damaging, tampering with, or moving road signs, reflectors, and signposts, and any act that reduces their importance and clarity or undermines their internationally agreed meaning.
يحظر إتلاف علامات الطريق و العاكسات و الشاخصات ، أو العبث بها، أو نقلها، أو القيام بأي تصرف يجعلها أقل أهمية ووضوحا، أو يؤدي إلى الإخلال بالمفهوم العام المتفق ع
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.