HUNDREDS of requests for speed bumps were made by residents in the first half of the year, it has been revealed.

Of the 329 received, 128 had already been introduced and another 130 were awaiting implementation, said Works Ministry Roads planning and design director Kadhim Abdullatif.

"The rest have been rejected because they did not conform to the approval criteria," he said.

"Requests have come in from all of Bahrain's governorates, possibly because of people's desire to have better and slower traffic flow near their homes."

Mr Abdullatif said the directorate received 161 requests from the Northern Municipality area, 73 from the Central Municipality, 35 from the Muharraq Municipality, 30 from the Southern Municipality and another 30 from Manama.

"All requests are routinely reviewed by a committee comprising members from the ministry, municipal councils and the General Directorate of Traffic."

Ministry officials earlier said many requests to install speed bumps had been rejected because of fears about traffic congestion and potential delays for emergency services.

Authorities said despite the many advantages of such road safety measures, an excess number of speed bumps could have major repercussions in all five governorates.

However, out of 430 requests received last year most were turned down because proper procedures were not followed.

Works Ministry roads assistant under-secretary Huda Fakhro previously said requests to install speed bumps would not be accepted unless they went through the Traffic Directorate's technical committee, which takes the final decision.

She said 541 requests were received in 2010 and 393 in 2009.

Ministry co-ordination and follow-up committee head Faisal Al Rayyash said a speed bump committee looked into each application.

He said they occasionally suggested alternative solutions to reduce the speed of motorists including more warning signs, the painting of ground markings, improving visibility at intersections, closing potentially dangerous sections of roads and direct follow-up with the Traffic Directorate.

Mr Al Rayyash admitted speed bumps increased traffic congestion at some locations and harmed sensitive equipment in ambulances.

He also said they were not environmentally friendly because they increased carbon dioxide emission from vehicle exhausts, adding the ministry had also received requests to remove illegal speed bumps such as those made of cement or set up by residents.

mandeep@gdn.com.bh