Fatal accidents on the road dropped 22.6 per cent in 2011 in Bahrain despite an increase in the number of vehicles, said a senior government official.

Fifty-eight deaths were reported, compared with 75 in 2010, while the number of vehicles reached 4,54,850 last year as against 3,78,184 in 2010, said Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, marking the 28th Gulf Traffic Week.

Violations also dropped to 4,84,402 last year, compared with 4,87,148 in 2010, indicating a better traffic situation in the coming years, he added.

Citing a World Health Organisation report, Shaikh Rashid said road fatalities take the third place after deaths due to heart diseases and cancer.

He stressed the need for concerted efforts to prevent accidents and their negative impact by way of deaths, injuries, disabilities and financial loss.

He said most accidents occur among the young, which amounts to a waste of their potential and leads to a rise in the cost of insurance and medical care for them.

'The horrible accident which claimed the lives of six Bahraini girls brought grief to all of us and citizens expressed their sorrow by offering condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for their souls to rest in peace.

'This accident should prompt us to follow traffic rules, avoid speeding and be more cautious on roads,' Shaikh Rashid added.

He said the General Directorate of Traffic is striving to develop systems and adopt latest technology to ensure the highest level of road safety.

It runs programmes to educate road users on rules, monitors busy highways and roads and limits violations, he said.

The directorate also ensures vehicles are fit in terms of general safety, train drivers and take action against violators, he added.

Roads have been designed in a manner that ensures smooth traffic to cope with urbanisation and the increasing number of vehicles, especially in densely populated districts, Shaikh Rashid said.

He thanked the directorate, security departments concerned, ministries, civic organisations and the public for their support and participation in the Gulf Traffic Week being held under the theme 'Let's Work Together To Limit Traffic Accidents'. – TradeArabia News Service