Manama: Bahrain's traffic authorities have urged drivers not to import or buy right-hand drive cars, pledging zero tolerance for such vehicles on the roads.
The traffic authorities have launched a campaign to ensure better compliance with traffic regulations.
"Bahrain has a very strict policy about car safety and wants to make sure that car standards are invariably respected. There are people who import vehicles that have the steering wheel on the right. This of course becomes a driving hazard when you are driving on the right, particularly when overtaking other cars," Abdul Rahman Bu Hijji, Traffic Directorate public relations officer, yesterday told Gulf News.
"Those who import these vehicles and then modify them by moving the steering wheel to the left compromise the car's safety and standards."
Banned registration
The six Gulf Cooperation Council states in October 2001 banned the registration of right-hand drive cars for non-compliance with Gulf standards.
The decision prompted many owners to modify their cars in local garages, a move that traffic authorities said compromised safety and security.
"The traffic law stipulates that a vehicle that does not adhere to the standards set by the state cannot be imported into the country. So, cars with the steering wheel on the right cannot be imported into the Gulf.
At the same time, modifications to the steering wheel to move it to the left are often hazardous and threaten the robustness of the car and the reliability of the driving," Bu Hijji said.
Traffic authorities also want Bahraini drivers of Gulf-registered cars to register them in Bahrain.
"The law stipulates that cars imported into Bahrain should have a Bahraini registration number, unless those who are driving them need to move between Bahrain and one or more of the other GCC countries," the official said.
