| Oman has one of the highest traffic accidents worldwide |
| MUSCAT Oman has one of the highest traffic accidents worldwide. Nearly six thousand men, women and children have lost their lives in car crashes in Oman between 2000 and 2008. Seventy thousand have been injured some of them were disabled for life. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that worldwide more than 50 million people are injured or permanently disabled every year. "I never wear seatbelts because they wrinkle my clothes," said a student. Many people think that wearing seatbelts is not cool, "However it only takes five seconds to fasten a seatbelt, and they can save your life," replied Nujaida Al Maskari, who was part of a group of thirteen students of the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) who held a public talk about Road Safety on 22 June at the University's campus. The topic on road safety was chosen because earlier this year the students received a newsletter from the Omani Non-Governmental Association Salim and Salimah (www.salimandsalimah.org) who informed them that the death rate of Omanis involved in traffic accidents is higher than the death rate in any other country worldwide. "To learn more about the causes of this high rate of road accident deaths, the students began investigating the problem and visited the Traffic Safety Institute in Seeb," said Geraldine Walsh, English Lecturer at GUtech. Over the past years Oman's annual death rate from road crashes has doubled, according to the latest statistics published by Salim and Salimah. Careless driving, over-speeding, bad driving, the use of mobile phones whilst driving and the lack of seatbelts are the main reasons for serious injuries and deaths on Omani roads, said the GUtech students. According to a survey conducted at GUtech, 72 per cent of the students and staff know of someone who has died in a road accident and 75 per cent of GUtech drivers wear seatbelts. However, about 50 per cent talk on the phone whilst driving. "Using a mobile phone is like driving under the influence of alcohol. Many people need more information about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving," said Hamed Al Brashdi, GUtech student while adding: "Remember, do not call before you arrive." Excessive speed and poor driving skills are involved in many car accidents. According to a study conducted by Salim and Salimah, most of the fatal crashes in Oman occur between Wednesday and Friday on 2-lane highways in the interior of the Sultanate. "Contrary to the popular belief, the largest category of individuals killed or injured in crashes are married Omani men between the ages of 26-50 years. The loss of breadwinners has far-reaching implications for the families. The widows and orphans left behind often have to rely on social funds to survive," said the study. "One of the main points which is always forgotten in vehicle crashes is post crash trauma, where a family member is lost. Here we need to recruit more professional social workers such as psychologists to help family members ease their mental suffering for their lost ones" said Dr. Talal Al Balushi, Director of Research at The Research Council during a discussion that followed the presentation. According to the Royal Oman Police (ROP), 42 per cent of the dead and injured were children under the age of 25 years. Most of the child passengers were unrestrained and thrown through the window, around the car or crushed by the person holding them. "We have to educate children and young people about road safety in Oman," said Sabra Al Busaidy, GUtech student. The students went on to list the different ways in which to increase public awareness including setting-up a website; producing a film that shows the risk of over-speeding and driver education programmes at high schools. In addition the students advised the driver: "Do not call until you arrive, focus on the road, wear seatbelts and remember your family is waiting for you." WHO's global status report on road safety predicts that by 2030 the death from road crashes will rise to the fifth leading cause of death globally and that rate will double in low-medium income countries like Oman. |
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