A new initiative has been launched to boost awareness of traffic rules and enhance road safety for drivers and pedestrians.
The Traffic Village was officially opened yesterday at The Avenues Bahrain coinciding with the celebration of Gulf Traffic Week 2024.
The event that continues until March 8 is being organised by the General Directorate of Traffic under the slogan ‘Driving without...a phone’.
Capital Governor Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa inaugurated the village in the presence of General Directorate of Traffic director-general Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa.
Scores of school children who attended the event yesterday were given lessons on traffic safety.
Road accidents have increased globally in the last two years and experts put much of the blame on in-car use of smartphones and dashboard applications. Drivers and pedestrians who are distracted by their gadgets are less likely to be aware of their surroundings, creating the potential for danger, they said.
Shaikh Rashid stressed Bahrain’s advanced systems to streamline traffic and the continuous development of services and their digital transformation.
He highlighted the directives of Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to raise road safety rates by consolidating the concepts of community partnership and increasing awareness for all age groups.
Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman said the directorate was working to enhance safety for all road users.
“Efforts are underway to reduce the rate of accidents, develop services provided to the public and encourage their completion electronically while strengthening relations with the private sector in providing services and achieving partnerships for more awareness and media programmes,” he said.
During the opening ceremony, a number of supporting agencies and social media influencers were honoured for their contributions.
The 2014 Traffic Law imposes jail sentences of up to six months for people caught using their mobile phone while driving.
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