Bahrain is set to enforce its tough new traffic law from February 8, it was declared yesterday (December 25).

The executive code for the law has almost been finalised, Legislative and Legal Opinion Commission president Abdulla Al Buainain said.

The law, ratified by His Majesty King Hamad in July, will quadruple some punishments for motoring offences – including jail terms of up to six months and fines of up to BD500 ($1,326), or both, for deliberately jumping a red light, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

But it excludes a controversial clause that barred expatriates from driving unless their jobs required it.

The new law has been pending for seven years and will replace existing legislation dating back to 35 years. - TradeArabia News Service