Plans for driving lessons on Bahrain F1 track

DRIVING SCHOOL: Ordinary motorists could be driving around the Bahrain International Circuit instead of these F1 greats. (Getty Images)

Plans to improve safety on Bahrain’s roads could see motorists getting free driving lessons at the country’s Formula One track.

The scheme, by the Rotary Club of Manama, will be aimed at 18-24 year-old males, which the group says are the people most likely to have an accident.

Rotary members are currently in talks with the government about the defensive driving lessons at the Bahrain International Circuit, reported the Gulf Daily News.

"We will offer defensive driving courses to young Bahrainis and also help them secure jobs as drivers," said former club president Betsy Bennett Mathieson.

The group's wider safer driving campaign, Rotary Saves Lives, has seen 8,000 Arabic and English posters and booklets distributed across Bahrain.

Figures by the General Directorate of Traffic revealed there were 91 fatalities on Bahrain’s roads in 2007 and 84 last year.

"Drivers need to have more respect for the authority of the police, but it is sadly lacking here," Mathieson said.

"There needs to be stricter implementation of on-the-spot fines for not wearing seatbelts, speeding, jumping red lights and talking on mobile phones while driving.

"We must look at the standard of our driving instructors too, they need more support and training opportunities.

"It's difficult to find good instructors because most don't seem to care or concentrate,” she said.

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