The traffic laws of the Kingdom of Bahrain need to be amended to conform with international standards, the initiator of the debate at the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee of the Bahrain Parliament, said.
Abdulrahman bin Rashid Bumajid, Member of the House of Representatives and also member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee told the Bahrain News Agency that the laws followed by Bahrain date back to 1970.
“The traffic scenario in Bahrain has undergone a huge change and these laws are obsolete. It is time to amend these laws,” he said.
Officials from the Directorate General of Traffic, in the Ministry of Interior, met with the committee members with the components of the law, said Bumajid.
“The law itself has 30 Articles and we decided to look at two issues – the laws on registration fees and penalties. It was decided to strengthen the laws on penalties and bring about amendments to the registration laws,” said the member.
The laws on penalties for various offences, especially those on crossing in red light need strict implementation, he said. The number of cars on Bahrain roads has increased much and the number of offences is also growing, added Bumajid. In the interest of other motorists and other road users, it is important to bring in penalties that would deter violators, added the MP.
“We are with the traffic officials in strengthening the law on penalties,” he added.
However, the second item discussed would not meet a positive response, he added.
Khamees Ahmed Al Rumaihi, fellow Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee told the BNA, “The traffic officials urged the registration fees for vehicles to increase in proportion to the age of the vehicle.”
The officials were of the opinion that other countries of the region – including Qatar and Kuwait – increase the registration tax based on the age of the vehicle, said the chairman.
“We decided to decline this amendment. Bahrain needs to look at itself and the characteristic of this nation when we decide on such issues,” said Al Rumaihi.
Bumajid added that the committee was of the opinion that the fee increase should be on the basis of the health of the vehicle and not the age. “Here the report of the official inspecting the vehicle should be considered. Even if a car is old, if it is road worthy then no increase in registration fees should be levied,” he added.
Another Article discussed related to fees levied on services such as registration, issuing driving licence and change in registration, said the member.
Both he and the chairman echoed the similar comment. They said that the schedule for the levy of such charges need to be drafted into the law instead of treating it as an item that is decided between the traffic authorities and the Ministry of Interior.
The committee called for another meeting with the traffic directorate in a fortnight.