Traffic points system comes into effect today

The new points system for traffic violations will come into effect from today, authorities confirmed yesterday.

The General Directorate of Traffic (GDT) Director-General Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, in a statement released yesterday, said the points system would apply to all Bahraini driving licences. 

He urged all drivers and road-users to comply with traffic regulations to avoid accountability, noting that road users can benefit from the online services offered via the e-government portal to find out about the number of points counted for each violator.

In the points system, the calendar year is counted as 365 days from the date of the first traffic violation. When the total number of points reaches 20, the limit for licence withdrawal during a particular year, the violator’s licence will be withdrawn. The new calendar year is counted from the date of the first violation committed after the first withdrawal of the licence. The points are automatically deleted if they do not reach the mandatory limit of 20 at the end of a calendar year, starting with the first violation. The new calendar year then begins with the first violation.

If a driver accumulates, for the first time, a total of 20 points for committing violations during a calendar year, his driving licence will be withdrawn for three months. In case a driver accumulates, for the second time, a total of 20 points for committing violations during calendar year, his driving licence will be withdrawn for six months.

The points system is classified according to the severity of the violation. Violations like driving a vehicle without a licence, or with a licence that is not meant for driving a particular vehicle or one that has been withdrawn or cancelled would cost the driver two points.

Three points will be counted for various violations such as causing injuries to one or more persons, wrong overtaking through the emergency lane, the pavement or something similar. It’s also applied for not giving way to official motorcades or emergency vehicles, when the driver of a passenger transport vehicle, a goods carrier or a private vehicle isn’t keeping to the right lane, in addition to making or receiving a mobile phone call while driving.

Five points will be counted for violations such as driving a vehicle with a number plate which has been withdrawn, if the plates were not issued for the vehicle or were issued for another vehicle or which has the information on it disfigured, covered over or altered. 

Seven, eight and 10 points are the highest numbers of points and it will include violations with more severity. Seven points will be counted for exceeding the speed limit by 30 per cent or jumping a red signal; eight points for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing damage to private or public property and finally 10 points will be counted for committing a traffic violation that causes the death of one person or more.