Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The new traffic points system has now been enforced and all Bahraini driving licence holders have been urged to visit the e-Government portal to find out about the points for each violation.
Being a holder of a Bahraini driver’s licence and a stickler for complying by the rules, I quickly logged on. However, after 20 frustrating minutes of scrolling up and down the portal, I was yet to find any information on the new traffic points system – no matter how many times I clicked my mouse on the word ‘TRAFFIC’!
I admitted defeat and logged on to Facebook and found a link to the required information within seconds.
Clearly, a driver has to avoid accumulating up to 20 points during a calendar year otherwise they face the consequences of having their licence withdrawn for three months, gather another 20 points within a calendar year then you can say goodbye to your licence for another six months.
If you can squeeze in another 20 points within a calendar year for the third time, then your licence is withdrawn for one year.
Finally, if you accumulate another 20 points for the fourth time in a calendar year, even though by this stage you should have already had your licence revoked for a total of 18 months in a calendar year, then, I think your licence is revoked permanently. It’s as clear as day, really …
Intrigued to find out what the violations are, I continued to read. It’s with a sense of relief when I discover that I should manage to continue to drive in Bahrain without gathering any points.
I also filled up with joy as I start to visualise the emptier, safer roads … and could this mean no more traffic jams?
It’s a no-brainer – seven points for exceeding the speed limit by 30 per cent or jumping the red signal. It’s three points for wrongly overtaking or using your mobile phone while driving. Not wearing a seatbelt and my personal favourite – not following the rules on when to enter the yellow box will earn you two points!
Surely, there will be no one left on the roads! But wait a minute; the new points system is only targetted at Bahraini driver’s licence holders, GCC drivers licence holders appear to be exempt.
But, of course, the success of Bahrain’s new points system will be on whether it is actually implemented and how the administration is followed through.
I do wonder though, why monetary fines have not been mentioned. With this new points system and the introduction of speed cameras, surely Bahrain could be increasing revenues during these times of austerity measures?
