Road ban ‘impractical’

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Delivery riders were involved in 3,387 accidents last year, marking a 21.79% increase from the previous year.

Among these incidents, seven fatalities were reported, five of which were caused by the delivery rider.

However, the Interior Minister, HE Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, said barring them from main roads would be impractical, as it could worsen congestion and lead more riders to switch to cars.

In a written response to the Shura Council, HE Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla said the ministry is tightening enforcement while working to improve road safety.

Question

He was responding to a question from Shura member Dr Ali Al Haddad about steps taken to regulate delivery riders and reduce accidents.

“The General Directorate of Traffic closely monitors motorcycle violations, particularly those involving delivery riders,” he said. “These include failure to obey traffic laws, ignoring road signs, endangering themselves and others, and disrupting traffic.”

Traffic records show accidents involving delivery riders rose from 2,781 in 2023 to 3,387 in 2024.

Fatalities also increased

Deaths in 2023, four deaths were recorded, two where the rider was responsible and two where the rider was the victim.

In 2024, seven people died in such incidents, with five cases caused by the rider.

The Ministry of Interior said most accidents were due to lack of due care and failure to take necessary precautions while riding.

To enforce traffic laws, 918 delivery motorcycles were seized over the past two years for violations, with the ministry regularly publicising these actions through the media and social platforms.

Awareness campaigns

The General Directorate of Traffic has also conducted awareness campaigns in multiple languages, holding more than 42 safety lectures between 2023 and 2024, reaching over 2,003 delivery riders.

These efforts are part of the Ride Safe campaign, which aims to ensure riders follow traffic laws to protect themselves and others.

His Excellency also said the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with other authorities, is working on a licensing system for delivery riders and their motorcycles to improve oversight and road safety.

Meanwhile, e-scooters, some of which are used for deliveries, have been banned from main roads, traffic lanes, road shoulders, and emergency lanes due to safety concerns.

Traffic flow

However, barring delivery riders from main roads or restricting their hours would not help traffic flow, given Bahrain’s road network and the need to reach key areas via main routes.

“Preventing delivery motorcycles from using main roads or restricting their hours would not improve traffic movement,” the minister said. “In some areas, there are no alternative routes, and such restrictions would force more traffic onto smaller roads, making congestion worse.”

He added that banning delivery motorcycles from key roads could push more riders to use cars instead, leading to even more congestion.