A proposed amendment to Bahrain’s Traffic Law is set to be rejected for the second time by the upper house, as members warn that the change would weaken deterrence and contradict recent legislative efforts to enhance road safety.
In a detailed report submitted ahead of the Shura Council’s upcoming session on Sunday, the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee recommended maintaining the council’s earlier decision to reject the amendment to Article 56 of the Traffic Law, despite Parliament insisting on its approval twice.
The proposed amendment seeks to allow offenders who accept reconciliation to pay an amount equivalent to half the minimum fine within 30 days, replacing the current system which grants a reduction only if payment is made within seven days.
Committee chairman Dr Ali Al Rumaihi said the Traffic Law was a cornerstone of public safety legislation and should not be weakened through such measures.
“Traffic laws are directly linked to the protection of lives, property and public order,” Dr Al Rumaihi said. “Any amendment must preserve the balance between facilitation and deterrence, and ensure that penalties remain effective in curbing dangerous driving behaviour.”
The committee stressed that the legislation was designed to address the severe human, social and economic consequences of road accidents, adding that financial penalties play a crucial role in discouraging repeat offences.
According to the report, the existing reconciliation system already offers flexibility by allowing certain offences to be settled before referral to the Public Prosecution, easing pressure on courts and speeding up procedures. However, it deliberately ties fee reductions to prompt payment, reinforcing accountability and compliance.
The committee warned that extending the payment window to 30 days, while offering a reduced amount, would weaken this incentive structure.
“Removing the element of urgency eliminates the motivational aspect of early settlement and diminishes the psychological and preventive impact of the penalty,” Dr Al Rumaihi noted.
The report also highlighted a legislative contradiction between the proposed amendment and Decree-Law No 30 of 2025, which recently increased traffic fines and expanded the list of offences eligible for reconciliation in an effort to strengthen deterrence.
“The state has moved towards tightening penalties to address reckless driving and fatal accidents,” the committee said. “Lowering reconciliation amounts would disrupt legislative consistency and undermine the objectives of the recent amendments.”
Another concern raised was the constitutional principle of proportionality between offence and punishment, particularly given the seriousness of traffic violations that may result in serious injury or loss of life.
The committee believes that the proposed reduction in reconciliation payments would weaken the punitive and corrective role of fines, potentially encouraging complacency among offenders.
Based on these considerations, the committee unanimously recommended that the Shura Council stand by its earlier rejection of the bill in principle, in accordance with Article 84 of the Constitution. If rejected for a second time, then the bill gets listed for a joint session between both legislative chambers.
The Shura Council is also set to discuss and vote on a new mutual aviation agreement between Bahrain and Kyrgyztan.
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