CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has approved tough new amendments to the traffic law that entered into force Nov. 24. The changes followed a rise in fatal road accidents, which take the lives of thousands each year. It is unclear, however, whether the amendments will be enough to address the problem.

“This seems to be a good step in the right direction, but we are waiting for the new parliament to issue new and inclusive laws,” Samy Mokhtar, head of the Egyptian Association for the Care of Road Accident Victims and Their Families, told Al-Monitor in a phone interview.

Mokhtar contends that the new amendments should have given emphasis to targeting driving without a license. According to Mokhtar, the fine for this infraction is not severe enough to serve as a deterrent.

Based on the new amendments, a driver who causes injury to another person or persons while driving in the opposite direction and under the influence of drugs or alcohol faces imprisonment of no less than one year, with a possible increase to two years, plus a fine of no less than 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,399). Should the accident result in the death of one or more persons or lead to a victim's total disability, the perpetrator could face up to seven years in prison and a fine of no less than 10,000 Egyptian pounds. In addition, the driver's license will be revoked and he or she cannot not be issued a new one for a period equal to the term of imprisonment.