NEW and tougher penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for traffic violations went into effect in Bahrain early this morning to put the brakes on reckless driving.
The General Directorate of Traffic posted details of the various violations, fines and jail terms on Instagram yesterday.
The implementation follows a decree issued by His Majesty King Hamad on Tuesday, amending certain provisions of the Traffic Law issued under Law 23 of 2014, based on a proposal by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and following the approval of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet had said in June that the penalties would be increased for severe traffic violations leading to injury or loss of life, as well as for reckless driving.
It was reviewing a memorandum by Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa on the issue.
According to new rules, those who jump a red light shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and receive fines of between BD200 and BD1,000.
Those who fail to reduce speed while driving in populated areas or entering curves or intersections, especially when approaching schools, hospitals or houses of worship, face a fine of between BD50 and BD100. If it results in an accident that causes damage to public or private property, the penalty increases to imprisonment of between three months and one year, and a fine of between BD1,000 and BD3,000.
A person who consumed alcohol or drugs while driving, especially if it causes them to lose control of the vehicle or impairs an ability to drive, will be punished with imprisonment of between two months and one year, and a fine of between BD1,000 and BD2,000.
The new penalties came shortly after Bahraini parents and one of their children were killed in an horrific road accident in Saar on May 30 after a head-on collision involving a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Ahmed Al Orrayedh, 40, and his wife Fatema Al Qaidoom, 36, died in hospital as a result of the critical injuries they suffered. Their seven-year-old son, Abdulaziz, succumbed to his injuries two weeks later, on June 13.
The 29-year-old Bahraini driver of the other car involved in the crash was sentenced to nine years in prison following two separate trials – one on charges of manslaughter, reckless driving, property damage and speeding, and the other for recreational drug use.
For more details of the new penalties, visit gdnonline.com or follow GDN’s social media handles.
&uuid=(email))