MPs delay law to crack down on reckless driving

TDT | Manama

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A draft law cracking down on reckless driving, including illegal use of the hard shoulder, has been sent back to the committee by Parliament for the second time.

The proposal, introduced by MP Abdulla Al Rumaihi, aims to enforce stricter penalties, with drivers facing a minimum of six months in jail or fines ranging from BD2,000 to BD6,000 for offences such as dangerous overtaking and misuse of emergency lanes.

“This is about protecting lives and making sure reckless drivers face proper consequences,” said Al Rumaihi, defending the proposal.

However, critics have raised concerns about its narrow focus on accidents that lead to fatalities, leaving incidents involving injuries or less severe breaches unaddressed.

Penalties

The Ministry of Interior has questioned the practicality of the law, warning that it could strip judges of the ability to weigh up individual circumstances by imposing fixed minimum penalties.

The ministry also criticised the proposal’s use of vague terms like “security and safety”, arguing that such wording could lead to uneven enforcement.

The ministry added that Bahrain’s existing traffic laws already provide strong measures to deal with fatal crashes and other serious violations.

Response

“The current laws are broad enough to cover what this proposal intends to address,” the ministry said in its written response, pointing out that the draft fails to consider scenarios such as multiple deaths or accidents caused by driver error.

The ministry also noted that imposing harsher penalties could unfairly target those who make genuine mistakes rather than deliberate violations.

This is the second time the proposal has been delayed.

Concerns

In October, Parliament returned it to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence, and National Security, citing concerns about its practicality and scope. The latest decision calls for further revisions.