Traffic Directorate to pull the plug on violations

General Director of Traffic Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa announced yesterday that Points System would be enforced on all Bahrain driving licences starting February 8.

He said that the “implementation of the system aims to promote the sense of responsibility among drivers, especially for those who intentionally violate traffic rules,” adding that the system creates higher traffic safety levels.

According to the directorate, the Points System is meant to determine the number of traffic violations committed by a driver. The number of points for each violation is in accordance with the danger such a violation poses. If the total number of points for any type of violation reaches 20 in a calendar year, the driver faces certain procedures that include permanent withdrawal of licence.

“In all cases the number of points would double if the violator has his/her driving licence issued within less than one year,” it informed.

 How the Points System works

The calendar year is counted as 365 days from the date of the first traffic violation. When the total number of points reaches 20, the limit for licence withdrawal during a particular year, the violator’s licence will be withdrawn. The new calendar year is counted from the date of the first violation committed after the first withdrawal of the licence.

The points are automatically deleted if they do not reach the mandatory limit of 20 at the end of a calendar year, starting with the first violation. The new calendar year then begins with the first violation.

 Up to 20 points

If a driver accumulates, for the first time, a total of 20 points for committing violations during a calendar year, his driving licence will be withdrawn for three months.

In case a driver accumulates, for the second time, his driving licence will be withdrawn for six months.

Licence withdrawal periods would go up to one year, if 20 points were accumulated three times in a year or the licence could be revoked permanently in case the 20 points limit was accumulated four times in a calendar year.

Licences covered under the Points System

The system covers everyone, who has a driving licence issued in Bahrain and commits a violation within the Kingdom’s borders. 

The points are marked against the driver’s licence while the withdrawal covers all his/her licences.

Quoting Article 47 of the traffic, in regards to the penalty for Driving without a Licence, the department stated, “Without prejudice to the stipulations of this law or any higher penalty laid down in any other law, the penalty is a jail term of not more than six months and/or a fine ranging from BD50 to BD500.

Classification of traffic violations 

Two Points:

Violations like driving a vehicle without a licence, or with a licence that is not meant for driving a particular vehicle or one that has been withdrawn or cancelled would cost the driver two points.

The same goes for permitting a person without a driving licence to drive one’s vehicle or the violation of the load regulations or not covering the goods for goods carriers’ drivers.

Two points will also be counted for parking a vehicle in a parking space meant for those with special needs, or for emergency vehicles or public transport vehicle. Besides, refusing to show one’s ID or vehicle’s papers to the personnel of the General Directorate of Traffic or Public Security, driving without wearing a seatbelt, driving a motorcycle without wearing helmet, ignoring traffic police instructions, not following the rules on when to enter the yellow box and exceeding the speed limit by 30pc will invite points.

 Three Points: 

Three points will be counted for causing injuries to one or more persons, wrong overtaking through the emergency lane, pavement or something similar. It’s also applied for not giving way to official motorcades or emergency vehicles, when the driver of a passenger transport vehicle, a goods carrier or a private vehicle isn’t keeping to the right lane, in addition to making or receiving a mobile phone call at wheels.

Five Points: 

Traffic police will count five points for driving a vehicle driven in the certain conditions such as being driven with a number plate which has been withdrawn, if the plates were not issued for the vehicle or were issued for another vehicle or which has the information on it disfigured, covered or altered.

The same points would be counted for intentionally disrupting the traffic on a public road, street racing without permission, fleeing from a site after causing an accident or committing a violation or using a vehicle for a purpose that is not specified for it on the licence.

7, 8 and 10 Points: 

The highest numbers of points include violations with more severity, as confirmed by the Directorate.

Seven points will be counted for exceeding the speed limit by 30 per cent or jumping a red signal. Eight points for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing damage to private or public property. Finally, 10 points will be counted for committing a traffic violation that causes the death of one person or more.