Trucks and other heavy vehicles on Bahrain’s major roads could soon be subject to reduced speed limits under a new proposal aimed at improving road safety following a string of serious accidents.
The initiative, spearheaded by Hidd councillor Mohammed Al Meghawi, was unanimously approved by the Muharraq Municipal Council and has now been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
Mr Al Mubarak is expected to raise the matter with Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj for further evaluation.
The call for action comes in response to multiple road accidents in recent months involving heavy goods vehicles, with many of the incidents occurring despite the trucks being compliant with load regulations.
Mr Al Meghawi, who represents one of Bahrain’s busiest industrial regions, said the recent incidents point to an urgent need to re-evaluate the speed limits for large vehicles.
“These accidents were not caused by overloaded trucks or mechanical faults,” he explained.
“They occurred simply because these heavy vehicles, even while operating within legal guidelines, cannot stop or manoeuvre as quickly in emergencies, especially at higher speeds.”
The councillor suggested the Khalifa Bin Salman Causeway and the Dry Dock Highway as initial trial zones for the proposed speed reduction, saying that both were high-traffic corridors often used by commercial and industrial vehicles.
“We are proposing a practical and preventative measure,” he said.
“Lowering speed limits for trucks in key areas could make a significant difference in reducing the severity – and frequency – of road accidents.”
The council threw its full support behind the proposal, agreeing that a targeted strategy for heavy vehicles is both timely and necessary.
Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar praised the initiative and stressed the importance of proactive governance when it involved public safety.
“This is a public safety issue that cannot be ignored,” he said.
“We support Mr Al Meghawi’s proposal wholeheartedly because we must take every possible step to prevent further accidents, particularly when they involve large, fast-moving vehicles.”
Mr Al Naar added that co-ordination with the relevant ministries was crucial for the proposal’s success, especially in determining how the speed adjustments would be implemented and monitored.
“We are not only looking at speed limits; we are also urging that safety signage, awareness campaigns and technological enforcement be part of the discussion,” he said.
Should the proposal be approved by the relevant ministries, the new speed limits would likely be introduced in phases, starting with pilot zones such as the Dry Dock Highway and Khalifa Bin Salman Causeway.
The results would be monitored and assessed before expanding the measure to other highways across Bahrain.
The move reflects growing concern among municipal leaders about the interaction between heavy transport traffic and general road users, especially as infrastructure expands and industrial activity increases.
Mr Al Naar stressed that the goal was not to burden commercial operators, but to ensure a safer road environment for all.
“This is about saving lives. Slower speeds for heavier vehicles could prevent deadly crashes and we hope that the ministries will take this recommendation seriously and act promptly.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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