Bahrain marks Gulf Traffic Week

Manama, Mar.11 (BNA): Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa delivered the following speech to mark the 33th Gulf Traffic Week, set to start on Sunday: Bahrain joins the rest of Gulf countries to celebrate the 33th Gulf Traffic Week that is marked under the theme “Protect Your Life”. This theme reminds us of the risks of driving and the importance of following traffic rules to protect our lives. We should protect ourselves for our families and nation. Traffic accidents caused deaths, injuries and damages that waste human energies and financial capabilities by spending money on healthcare and rehabilitation for accident-related cases. The development in road networks and the construction of bridges and tunnels to facilitate traffic flow haven’t stopped fatal accidents. The positive results of traffic safety awareness campaigns haven’t been enough to avoid traffic risks. This led to the drafting of legislations that achieve traffic safety and prevent traffic violations through preventative steps and gradual penalties. This was achieved with the enforcement of traffic law 23 of 2014 that led to reduction of fatal traffic accidents by 40% in 2016 compared with 2015. The numbers of traffic accident-related deaths were 47 last year, while 76 fatalities were reported in 2015. The new traffic law and smart systems to monitor violations, including crossing red signal have contributed in reduction of fatal accidents. The law takes into consideration to impose punishment gradually and the point system, and facilitate steps of renewing driving and vehicle licences as well as the payment of traffic fines and interact with drivers through text messages. Such positive results within the first year of the enforcement of the law makes us look forward for the future in term of reinforcement of traffic culture that is based on following the law and instructions out of convincement of the importance of traffic law and not out of fear of punishments. It is an opportunity to call upon road users, drivers and pedestrians to follow the law, ensure the safety of vehicles and benefit from the traffic awareness programmes of the Interior Ministry, media organisations and public and private organisations. The Gulf Traffic Week is an opportunity to rethink of many wrong practices, including reckless driving. Meanwhile a celebration programme has been designed to mark the occasion from March 12 to 16. The programme will include visits for visiting Gulf delegations and the 4th traffic forum of the University of Bahrain. The sincere national efforts of the General Directorate of Traffic are appreciations as its personnel are working hard for the safety of the public. The thanks are also extended to citizens and residents for their cooperation with traffic personnel to achieve traffic safety, as well as companies and other sponsors of traffic culture programmes to created safe traffic environment. The GCC delegations are also thanked for joining our celebration, may God protect our nations and people from all dangers, and for Bahrain to remain secure and safe under the leadership of His Majesty the King. (MOI)