INTERIOR MINISTER CHAIRS TRAFFIC ISSUE DISCUSSION

Minister of Interior Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa chaired the 32nd meeting of the Traffic Council yesterday.

Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nauimi, Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf and Minister of Transportation and Communications Kamal Ahmed also attended the meeting.

Shaikh Rashid welcomed the members at the first meeting of the newly constituted council and confirmed the importance of continuing sincere efforts to promote traffic safety for all road users.

He praised the efforts of the General Directorate of Traffic for successfully managing traffic during the Formula One season and for the high presence of traffic personnel along the main roads.

The council reviewed a number of issues, including the link between the number of vehicles and traffic accidents and ways of dealing with traffic jams.

Shaikh Rashid stressed the importance of making a comprehensive study of traffic to limit jams, which includes setting a certain life span for vehicles.

Minister of Works Essam Khalaf briefed the meeting on road development projects to tackle traffic jams, the development of public transportation and the opening of the branches of government organisations outside Manama.

The council also discussed the regulation of parking lots and the parking meters development project, thereby increasing the number of parking lots to 3,971. Shaikh Rashid directed the General Director of Traffic to take fast steps to assign insurance companies to handle minor accidents.

The council reviewed the development of a study on road rules and specifications by the Works Ministry in cooperation with the General Directorate of Traffic.

He directed awareness campaigns to be launched for the public if any traffic amendments are made.

The council also discussed speed limits and a proposal to impose a ban on trucks and heavy vehicles from using roads during a certain period of time. The council agreed to increase the period from the current timing of 6:30am-7:30am to 6:30am to 8am and in the afternoon from 1:30pm-2:30pm to 2pm-3pm.