Bahrain Traffics to fast-track services

Manama : Minister of Interior Lt  General  Shaikh  Rashid bin  Abdulla  Al  Khalifa has ordered the speeding up of the privatisation of the processing of minor traffic accidents and technical inspection of vehicles.

An office will be opened at the Security Complex in Muharraq to provide all traffic related services. “Work is also in progress to open two similar offices in Sitra Mall and Saar to reduce the waiting periods and speed up the processing of paperwork,” said Acting Director-General of Traffic Col. Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa.

The department will also open an office in the Southern Governorate near Alba in early 2017 to  inspect heavy, transportation vehicles and cars of the area’s residents.  It is expected to reduce the workload of the Technical Inspection Section.

There is also a plan to increase traffic patrols on roads, especially those with high accident rates. Strict and immediate legal action will be taken against those performing car stunts. 

The traffic law allows for the imposition of up to six months of jail term and/or a fine of between BD50 and BD500 on offenders.

Reckless driving and car stunts on public roads are punishable with five penalty points for a driver under to the points system. 

The points will double in the case of new drivers i.e. those who got licences in a year.

He said the law allows the suspension of a driver’s licence for 30 to 60 days for holding illegal car races or performing car stunts. 

If the offence is repeated within six months, the licence can be suspended for 90 days and for a third-time
offence, one year.  

Abdulrahman said the smart cameras introduced had helped reduce the number of accidents by 20pc compared to July 2015. 

He added that traffic patrols were deployed round the clock to ensure road safety and enforce traffic rules and people can report traffic violations by contacting the department on the phone or through email.

The Director-General also  highlighted the importance of the traffic e-service to facilitate the processing of paperwork through the website www.traffic.gov.bh. 

He also thanked the media for their role in spreading traffic awareness.