Lawmaker calls for assessing traffic history of drivers before fining them

A Bahraini lawmaker has submitted a proposal demanding to exempt drivers who have a clean traffic record from paying traffic fines, Tribune has learnt. MP Bader Al Dossary, who’s also the deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee in the Council of Representatives, is urging the Government to exempt law-abiding drivers from paying fines.

Justifying his request, Mr Al Dossary said his proposal comes as per Article 68 of the constitution and Article 128 of the council’s bylaws, which allow MPs to submit proposals that serve public interest. The lawmaker explained that the proposal stipulates an assessment of traffic behaviours of drivers by the end of each year, and to revoke all/some of them according to the driver’s commitment to the traffic rules and regulations.

“If no traffic violations were committed throughout the year, the driver shall be exempted from paying fines, provided that his record shows that he is committed  to the law and to paying previous fines on time. “This is justice and fairness in rewarding the committed ones and to punish those who commit traffic violations,” Mr Al Dossary clarified. The MP added: “The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the pioneering countries globally in the system of penalties and alternative procedures.

“If this proposal is implemented, it will reduce traffic violations and contribute to preserving lives and properties. It will also reflect on the behaviours of drivers and traffic safety in general.” The General Directorate of Traffic recently announced a new service through the e-traffic application to locate the speed radar cameras on all roads. The app offers details information about each camera in cooperation with the Information and e-Government Authority through the GPS facility.

The Director-General of Traffic, Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa said that the new step aims to inform the road users that the department is dedicated to promoting traffic safety and encouraging drivers to avoid violating rules. He assured that any changes in the locations of those cameras would be updated in the application.

He said that although road users could see the cameras and signs are highlighting that the roads are being monitored, some drivers continue to violate traffic rules. He said that the majority of drivers obey regulations. The Director-General said that traffic goals wouldn’t be achieved without a real community partnership and conviction that road safety is the responsibility of all.