FORTY-THREE people died on Bahrain’s roads last year compared with 51 in 2017, recording a 15 per cent drop in fatalities.
According to the latest statistics released by the Interior Ministry, there was also a slight decrease in the number of accidents in the “serious injury” category, to 426 cases last year, compared with 456 in 2017.
The data showed that “response cases” such as fires, first aid and community police reached 9,389 last year, compared with 7,401 cases in 2017.
The total number of traffic cases reported by police patrols reached 6,893 last year.
Jumping a red light, speeding, not wearing a seat belt and wrong parking were the top four offences committed by motorists last year.
The maximum number of fatalities in road traffic accidents in the first half of last year involved pedestrians (eight), followed by five motorcyclists, five car passengers, three bicyclists and two car drivers.
The total number of licensed vehicles registered until December 2018 was 719,418 compared with 687,116 vehicles until December 2017.
Meanwhile, Traffic director general Brigadier Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa said the rate of fatal traffic accidents in Bahrain was the lowest in the Gulf and the Middle East region.
He said, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, in the past five years fatalities on Bahrain’s roads dropped by 50 per cent, from 7.36 per 1,00,000 to 3.66.
“The rate is the lowest in the Gulf and the Middle East and reflects continuous decline in the number of serious traffic accidents as a result of the monitoring of wrong driving habits among the people and awareness campaigns,” said Brig Abdulrahman.
He also pointed out that despite a 36pc increase in the number of vehicles in the last five years, the number of accidents has come down by 21.55pc.
“Accidents involving injuries among drivers fell by 41pc and among passengers by 52pc,” he said.
The official affirmed the important role played by the community in bringing down the number of traffic accidents through awareness and developing safe driving culture.
Meanwhile, Traffic Week 2019 is underway at The Avenues until Saturday under the theme, Safety Awareness.
A Traffic Village has been set up featuring 19 sections on education, entertainment and traffic services, besides a host of programmes and events.
On the occasion, Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman said the week was an opportunity to remind people of the importance of following rules and being responsible by preventing serious accidents.
Ideal drivers and Bahrain University Traffic Competition participants will also be honoured at the event.
The Traffic Awareness Award for public and private high school students and the painting competition for Al Bayan School students will also be presented.
The Traffic Week is open daily from 10am to 10pm.
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