Speeding, Street Racing, Reckless Driving – Big Changes Are Coming!

The Ministry of Interior has announced that recent security statistics and field data indicate a sharp rise in serious traffic accidents across the Kingdom, resulting in significant human and material losses. In response, a new Royal Decree-Law has been issued to amend the Traffic Law, introducing stricter penalties for high-risk behaviors such as speeding, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

In an official memorandum submitted to the Council of Representatives, the Ministry explained that the decree introduces new punitive provisions that were not previously included in the Traffic Law. Some of these offenses were earlier punishable only under the Penal Code. Incorporating them into the Traffic Law, the Ministry noted, aims to unify the legislative framework and ensure more effective enforcement.

The Ministry clarified that the phrase “unsafe driving,” as stated in Article (47 bis) of the amended law, encompasses all forms of abnormal or unsafe conduct on public roads. This includes dangerous overtaking, driving against the flow of traffic, or street racing. The broad wording, the Ministry added, allows the judiciary to interpret and apply the law in a comprehensive manner that strengthens deterrence and road safety.

Regarding the use of window tints (rayban), the Ministry stated that their regulation falls under safety, durability, and environmental standards specified in the law’s executive regulations and is not part of the provisions concerning serious traffic violations.

Meanwhile, the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission affirmed that the amendment to the Traffic Law comes in light of the marked increase in major road accidents and the resulting losses. The Commission noted that previous provisions failed to provide adequate deterrence, prompting the need to empower the competent authorities — including the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution — with stronger and faster legal tools for enforcement.

The Commission further emphasized that the decree reflects the evolution of legislation in response to the rapid changes in Bahrain’s traffic environment driven by urban expansion, population growth, and the rising number of vehicles, while maintaining constitutional rights to personal safety and the right to life.