Speed cameras and civilian traffic patrols have been proposed to clamp down on motorists using Khalifa Bin Salman Highway near Hamad Town as a racetrack for illegal racing and excessively noisy driving.
This follows complaints from residents living near the highway that they are being kept awake by the roar of modified car engines.
Eastern Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Shareeda Al Thawadi has warned that the disturbance is particularly severe when modified cars speed through the tunnels near Roundabouts 6 and 14, amplifying engine noise and disrupting the peace of nearby neighbourhoods.
The proposal, submitted by Mr Al Thawadi alongside three other councillors, has been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak to forward it to Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa for review.
Mr Al Thawadi said the problem was not simply about speeding on a major highway, but also about the impact of reckless driving on families living close to the busy route.
He warned that the tunnels’ enclosed structure makes the noise from modified vehicles particularly intrusive, with the sound of revving engines and accelerating cars carrying into surrounding residential areas.
“Residents should not have to put up with the roar of racing cars late at night when they are trying to sleep,” he said.
“The tunnels near Roundabouts 6 and 14 appear to make the noise even louder when modified cars pass through them. We need effective measures to stop motorists from turning this highway into a racing track.”
Mr Al Thawadi said cameras would help authorities identify and penalise offenders, while civilian traffic patrols could provide an additional deterrent by catching drivers who engage in dangerous behaviour.
He stressed that the objective was to protect residents’ peace and quiet while improving road safety for all users.
The proposal was co-signed by Northern Municipal Council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Dr Mohsin Abdulla, who backed the call for stronger enforcement against motorists disturbing residential neighbourhoods.
Dr Abdulla said the issue required practical action to ensure that major roads were not misused by drivers seeking thrills at the expense of other people’s comfort and safety.
He supported the proposed monitoring measures as a way to help authorities identify violations and hold offenders accountable, particularly during late-night hours when residents are more sensitive to noise.
The Khalifa Bin Salman Highway in the early minutes of sunlight
Khalifa Bin Salman Highway is a major artery stretching from the Seef Mall area towards the University of Bahrain campus in Sakhir, passing through a lengthy section of the country and serving motorists travelling between key urban and educational destinations.
While the highway is designed to accommodate substantial traffic flows, councillors say its tunnels should not become gathering points for motorists whose modified vehicles and high-speed driving disturb nearby communities.
The proposal seeks greater co-ordination between the relevant ministries to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, with councillors hoping that cameras and targeted patrols will put an end to the late-night disturbances.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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