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Dubai: Police in Saudi Arabia arrested a man who jumped in front of a truck as part of a dangerous stunt.

The Saudi suspect, according to the General Directorate of Traffic, was arrested on the charges of endangering the lives of other road users.

Soon after the reckless stunt was carried out late last week, a video of the Saudi man went viral across social networking sites in the region.

In the video, the man can be seen standing on top of his car at the side of a highway in Medina.

The man then suddenly jumps in front of a speeding truck, surprising the driver and forcing him to change lanes.

Traffic Police soon launched an investigation to identify the suspect and by last Sunday, the man was referred to the Public Prosecution. 

Harsh penalties

Officials in the Gulf have recently taken a stance against reckless stunts that can endanger the lives of those who perform the dangerous feats, as well as those around them.

In 2016, the Saudi cabinet increased traffic fines for drifters.

Under the amended rules, first-time offenders will be slapped with a fine of 20,000 riyals (Dh19,580) and their vehicle will be impounded for 15 days.

Offenders caught for the second time will have to pay 40,000 riyals (Dh39,160) and the vehicle will be impounded for one month.

A third-time drifter will face the hefty penalty of 60,000 riyals (Dh58,740) and have his vehicle confiscated. The offender may also be subjected to a fine if he is found using a rented car.

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In Oman, drivers who perform drifting stunts can face jail terms of up to three months and be fined up to 500 riyals (Dh4,752), as per Article 42 of the traffic law. 

UAE traffic authorities can impose a fine of up to Dh100,000 against people who violate traffic rules, and offenders will also have to carry out community service. 

According to Federal Law No. 7 of 2016, offenders of misdemeanors that carry a sentence of no more than six months can be ordered with community service.

The Article 120 of the law stipulates mandatory community service including cleaning streets, beaches, parks and natural sanctuaries, teaching uneducated and illiterate people how to read and write, gardening and maintaining public parks, loading and unloading containers at ports and assisting civil defence teams. 

In April 2017, the General Prosecution in Abu Dhabi ordered five Emiratis and a GCC national to perform three months of community service for reckless driving.

The community service will include working as petrol station attendants and cleaning mosques.