Page 286 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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TRAFFIC BRANCH
(Report by Superintendent J. Hyde).

Vehicles. At the end of 1955, the total number of all types of motor vehicles registered
was 4,166, an increase of 787 over the 1954 total. The number of pedal cycles registered
during the year was 2,028. In many eases old cycles were re-registered and in some eases
new machines.
Traffic Accidents. With the increase in vehicles came the inevitable rise in accidents.
The number of accidents reported during the year was 178 ; this is 40 more than the previous
year. There were 14 fatal accidents, 5 more than in 1954. Of the 14 victims eight were
pedestrians, 4 adults and 4 children aged 16 or under. The fatalities included 2 pedal cyclists,
9 of which were involved in accidents. Serious injury was caused in 23 cases and slight injury
in 45 cases. Pedestrians were involved in 34 accidents as compared with 27 the previous year.
Of the 178 accidents, 1440 occurred during daylight and 34 during the hours of darkness.
The main cause of accidents was excessive speed; other causes were overtaking at road junctions,
incorrect or failure to give hand signals. In many cases the accidents were the result, of care­
lessness on the part of pedestrians, especially when crossing the road from a stationary vehicle
A number of serious accidents occur every year on the stretch of Awal Road, Manama,
between Lulu Road and the Mental Hospital. These arc usually a result of fast driving in
spite of the fact that this area is in a 20 miles per hour speed limit. The number of vehicles
which are overturned, especially at night, is increasing. Again this is the result of speeding
and inexperience of drivers.
Traffic Officers. The total fines during the year in both Courts amounted to Rs. 4,880/-.
In the Bahrain Court 73 offenders were charged with 103 Traffic Offences and fined a total
of Rs. 2,660. In six cases driving licences were suspended.
In the Agency Court 16 persons were convicted of 31 Traffic offences. The fines amounted
to Rs. 2,220 0 0. In six cases driving licences were suspended.

Public Conveyance Vehicles. There appear to be far more of these vehicles than necessary.
At present the two Bus Stations at Manama and Muharraq are not sufficiently large enough
to accommodate all the buses, as a result, many of them loiter around the market areas and in
side roads, causing obstruction.
The number of taxi cabs also increased by 81 during the year, bringing the total to 329.
Most of these vehicles are bought on the hire purchase system and there is still a steady flow of
new registrations. It is difficult to see how they all make sufficient money especially as there
are bus services to most of the villages.
The problem of finding space for cab stands is growing each year. There is also an urgent
need for a large parking space in the town for private cars.
Driving Tests. To cope with the ever increasing demand for driving licences, driving tests
are now carried out at the rate of 100 per week. In spite of this, the minimum waiting time
for an appointment is about two months. During 1955, 3,125 persons were given driving tests.

Non-Traffic Offences. Three liquor cases, one forgery case and one case of indecent
assault were dealt with in the Bahrain Court. In the indecent assault case a man was sentenced
to four years R.I.
In the Agency Court nine persons were dealt with for various non-Traffic offences, Prison
sentences were imposed on nine persons for theft. One man was sent to prison for two years
for attempted rape.
The Traffic Department also assisted B.O.A.C. Security in investigating a complicated
case of opium smuggling by aeroplane. A number of persons were concerned in various
parts of the world.
Two persons in Bahrain were convicted in the Agency Court and sentenced to terras of
imprisonment.

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