Cold-hearted motorists who use up spaces specifically designated to disabled drivers could face hefty fines and have their driving licences revoked.
Under the proposed new penalties spearheaded by Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, the current fine of BD20 to BD100, as stated in the 2014 Traffic Law, would be tripled from BD60 to BD300.
Additionally, the driver’s licence would be suspended for three months for the first offence and, if repeated, six months.
Mr Abdullatif believes the stiffer regime still pales into insignificance compared to the frustration people with disabilities experience when finding a space in a disabled bay at markets, malls, government buildings and places of worship filled by lazy, inconsiderate able-bodied drivers.
Heartless
“I don’t think that heartless motorists really know about the ordeal that people with disabilities go through when they take up their parking spaces, or else they would have shown an ounce of sympathy,” said Mr Abdullatif.
“There are special disabled bays and areas for a reason,” he added. “One particularly despicable example is witnessing people arriving late and taking up spaces for those with disabilities because they want to pray on time.
An initiative for special car parks for people with disabilities nearby a business ‘This is their space’
“I don’t think God accepts prayers from people who deliberately hurt others.”
Disability parking spaces are often wider than regular bays to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility aids, while the proximity to shops and other buildings allows permit holders to access services that, otherwise, might be too difficult to reach.
Mr Abdullatif said it was time for the introduction of heavier fines and revoking driving licences to offer a suitable deterrent and concentrate the minds of inconsiderate motorists.
“Sometimes you have no other way but to go to the place that hurts them the most – the pocket – so they can learn a lesson,” he said.
“By tripling the fines and revoking driving licences I very much doubt the offences would be even committed in the first place, let alone repeated.
“Unfortunately, there is no other way, the ‘couldn’t care less attitude’ appears to be on the increase.”
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah believes the move is long overdue.
Mr Tarradah
“I believe that heavy punishments should have been introduced when the law first came out 10 years ago and perhaps it would not have become such a big issue.”
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar also backed the proposal, hoping it will act as a successful deterrent. “It is time those irresponsible individuals learned a lesson, so ‘yes’ to tougher penalties,” he said.
Mr Al Naar
Strategic Bloc president MP Ahmed Al Salloom believes the tougher stance is necessary but has asked that the fines be determined through mutual understanding between legislators and the General Directorate of Traffic.
Mr Al Salloom
“I think that tripling the fine is reasonable, but traffic police may come and ask for it to be more,” he said. “We need to work together towards combating this social plague.”
Angry motorists with disabilities and those taking care of them want the authorities to use the full force of the law and crackdown on selfish offenders and suggest another alternative action would be to tow away offending cars.
“Harsher fines should not only be introduced, but enforced, to deter people from disrespecting the rights of disabled people,” Bahrain Mobility International’s head of the Barrier Removal Committee Mohamed Saad told the GDN, clearly frustrated by the dismissive and sometimes abusive attitudes of offenders when confronted.
The most pressing issues, he said, were the misuse of the limited number of designated spaces, the need for authoritative monitoring and the necessity for even more provision of facilities for those in need.
Disabled parking spaces are supposed to be only reserved for people in the kingdom displaying a relevant parking permit. The permits are available from a relevant government agency after submitting an application and medical certificate.
Social Development Minister Osama Al Asfoor recently told legislators that there were 13,765 challenged individuals registered with the ministry.
He said a total of 3,990 individuals suffer from physical disabilities, 2,210 from hearing problems, 1,302 have visual impairments, 5,332 have mental and psychological disabilities, and 911 are coping with multiple disabilities.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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