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Bahrain’s roads, like many across the region, continue to witness a string of tragic accidents claiming the lives of young people – often in the very prime of their lives. The scene is painfully familiar: A mangled car, wailing sirens and devastated families grappling with unbearable loss.
According to statistics from the Traffic Directorate, nearly 60 per cent of serious traffic accident victims in recent years have involved youth aged between 18 and 30. These speak volumes about the gravity of the issue.
Speeding, reckless overtaking, texting while driving and operating vehicles under the influence are all known contributors. Yet, perhaps the most dangerous factor of all is a growing culture of disregard – a reckless mindset that trivialises both personal safety and the lives of others, as if these young drivers believe they are untouchable.
Despite countless awareness campaigns and repeated calls from government bodies, NGOs, the media and social media platforms, the tragedies continue. It seems the blood spilled on our roads has not been enough to awaken collective conscience.
Behind every fatal crash lies a shattered family: Grieving parents, siblings robbed of a loved one and a future stolen from the individual and the nation. Many of these young victims were either still pursuing their studies or had just begun their professional lives, with ambitions that stretched far beyond the horizon.
It is high time for a collective reckoning with our driving culture. Responsibility does not rest on the driver alone – it spans the entire social fabric, from families and schools to the media and both legislative and executive institutions. We must enforce stricter laws, apply them rigorously and intensify youth-focused education that goes beyond generic awareness to genuinely shift attitudes.
Cultural change is never easy – it is slow, painful and requires perseverance. Today’s youth, unlike earlier generations, have grown up with fewer hardships and more distractions. That reality demands a different, more engaged approach.
This is a global issue, not confined to Bahrain. Many young people today do not value the advice of their elders, often brushing it off with arrogance or even ridicule.
The authorities are doing their part – imposing fines, monitoring roads with speed cameras and increasing patrols. Yet some drivers continue to flout the law, almost daring the system to catch them.
We need to acknowledge that technology, when paired with strict enforcement, works. In Saudi Arabia, speed cameras at border crossings have dramatically reduced deadly accidents.
It’s disheartening to hear claims that governments impose fines to inflate revenues. In reality, these penalties are legal tools used worldwide. They are not meant to fill state coffers, and any law-abiding citizen has nothing to worry about. Quite simply, follow the rules and the rules will not follow you.
Let us put an end to this senseless loss. Every young life lost on the road is a dream buried, a future denied. May we all remember that respect for the law is not just a civic duty – it is an act of compassion and care for every soul that shares the road.
Stay safe – and let your respect for the rules be a shield for your life and the lives of others.
ztawfeeqi@gmail.com
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