Oman's traffic safety issues in focus at major forum

Muscat: While the Traffic Culture Week in Oman concluded with a closure ceremony held at the Military Technical College on Thursday, the campaign to raise awareness about traffic safety in Oman will continue, senior officials attending the ceremony said.
The ceremony, organised by the Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, was attended by officers of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, Royal Guard and the Royal Oman Police (ROP), in addition to representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Social Development and the Muscat Municipality.
These stakeholders, all doing their part in an effort to put a limit to road accidents in Oman and improve traffic safety, presented their efforts by showing a film about their activities to raise awareness, help the injured and send a message: “Your decision determines your fate.”
Dr Mohammed bin Saif bin Sultan Al Hosni, undersecretary at the Ministry for Health Affairs, praised the efforts of all those who played a part in fighting road accidents.
“We thank the Sultan’s Armed Forces for their efforts in creating awareness during the Traffic Culture Week, since educating different parts of society on traffic is a very important issue. Those who want to avoid the consequences of bad behaviour on the road, will have to think of the harm and the injuries and disabilities it has caused,” he stated.
The campaign to raise awareness with the public that their fate is in their own hands while driving will continue also after the Traffic Culture Week.
Mohammed bin Awadh Al Ruwas, general director of Traffic at ROP, said the campaign will focus on speeding and the use of mobile phones.
“We hope that the ‘Driving without Phone’ campaign will achieve its aims. During the coming period, new initiatives will be undertaken to limit speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving. Speed is the main cause of accidents, followed by the use of mobile phones,” he stated.
“We are stressing on the importance of refraining from using mobiles phones while driving. It is lethal,” Al Hosni said.
The ceremony itself also resulted in some awareness about traffic safety for the attendees. Omani poets recited their poems that told the stories of road accidents and the tragedies they cause within families and the loss of property and to society.
A play by a Theatre Group of the Omani Air Force, was well received by the public, and offered a mix of humour and drama to highlight the consequences of disrespect for traffic rules and regulations, especially the loss of loved ones and its social and psychological impact.
At the end of the event, Al Hosni handed out prizes to those, who have worked hard to create awareness about traffic safety.