Just three weeks until the roll-out of Bahrain's tough new traffic law officials have stepped up an awareness campaign designed to educate the public.

The campaign, running under the slogan 'rethink', includes information on stricter punishments for motoring offences that will be introduced under the new law as well as statistics on traffic violations in an effort to curb offences, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

At a media briefing held to discuss the campaign yesterday at the Traffic Directorate in Isa Town, Traffic Directorate general director Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa said that community engagement was key to preventing traffic offences.

“We have serious problems with people's perceptions of what is acceptable driving,” he said.

“But there is no technology that I can put in place that can stop people from running a red light-that's an education issue.”

Traffic Culture Directorate acting director Major Osama Bahar said that statistics show 51 per cent of traffic accidents are caused by carelessness or lack of attention.

“This makes it necessary for the General Directorate of Traffic to improve traffic culture and raise awareness in all community groups to ensure the security and safety of all,” he said.

“We want people rethink their behaviours while driving and respect others on the road.”

Bahrain's new traffic law will come into effect on February 7.

It will see the introduction of a penalty point system to punish repeat offenders alongside much harsher fines and extended jail sentences for offences such as deliberately jumping a red light. - TradeArabia News Service