EXPATRIATES who have driving licences could be forced to pay BD50 monthly as road use fees under proposed amendments to the 2014 Traffic Law submitted by an MP yesterday.
Ghazi Al Rahma forwarded the proposal to parliament chairman Ahmed Al Mulla’s office to refer it to the relevant committee.
It excludes expats employed as drivers.
Under the proposal, expats with more than one car will also have to pay BD50 monthly for the additional vehicle.
However, the new fees would not be applicable to GCC nationals.
“The amendments will help reduce traffic jams on Bahrain’s roads and highways,” said Mr Al Rahma in a written reasoning behind his proposal.
“It will also help give the national budget a new source of revenue in view of the declining oil prices,” he added.
“The proposal will limit the bulk licences issued to expatriates, which the country doesn’t need, and has no significance to the national economy except leading to more traffic jams.
“It will also encourage expatriates to use public transport which will have a positive impact on the economy by promoting the transportation services. Besides, a reduction in emissions of harmful gases will help the environment.”
The move will also encourage expatriates to use taxis, he said.
Mr Al Rahma
“For years Bahraini taxi drivers have been complaining of challenges and obstacles in the form of declining incomes with many quitting the profession.”
The MP said the amendments were based on proper constitutional foundations and legislations based on 10 laws and decrees in addition to the Constitutional Court ruling on article 20 of the Traffic Law that sought to ban expatriates from driving unless their jobs required them to do so.
The Constitutional Court threw out article 20 in 2014, ruling that it was discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional.
However, in its ruling the court said a driving ban was feasible if it targeted specific employment categories, rather than focusing on all foreigners.
A new effort to revoke the driving licences of expats working in certain sectors was launched by the Muharraq Municipal Council in June.
The council resurrected the issue based on concerns over traffic congestion with official figures released in May indicating there are now 650,000 vehicles on Bahrain’s roads – and more than half of them allegedly driven by expats.
However, it was also revealed that each Bahraini eligible to drive owns an average of two cars.
The council’s proposal includes denying driving licences to new arrivals in Bahrain if they are not employed in the required sector.
It also involves revoking the driving licences of expats who do not fulfil employment requirements at the time of renewal of their residence permits.
Meanwhile, a shorter version of the report posted on GDNonline was read by more than 1,000 people within eight hours until 11.45pm last night.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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