Bahrain marks GCC traffic week tomorrow

Bahrain will tomorrow (March10) join the other GCC countries in marking the Gulf Traffic Week. The annual event, which runs until March 16, is being held this year under the theme "Our Aim Your Safety". In a statement on this occasion, Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa stressed the importance of promoting road safety amid mounting traffic accidents. He pointed out the alarming rate of deaths caused by fatal traffic accidents, which represents massive losses of human and financial resources. "The medical costs resulting from traffic accidents represent a serious burden on the Gross Domestic Product", he said, describing youth as the backbone of the national and the driving force of development. Citing updated figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said that fatal traffic accidents represent the third cause of deaths. The minister described safety as top priority for the General Directorate of Traffic and other concerned government departments. He stressed the GCC efforts to enforce traffic safety by passing law or upgrading procedures to keep pace with the urban and economic expansion in the Arabian Gulf region. He pointed out the unprecedented increase in the number of vehicles, stressing the necessity of tackling emerging traffic-related problems. He underscored the importance of the annual GCC Traffic Week in promoting public awareness among all road users and instilling the principle of community partnership with the General Directorate of Traffic. He also paid tribute to Bahraini police for working round the clock to ensure the smooth flow of the traffic, ease up road congestions and deal with accidents in accordance with the law provisions. He hailed their efforts in organizing the traffic during big events hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain, citing in this regard the Gulf Football Cup, recently held in Manama.