Oman traffic: ROP warns vehicle drivers against overlooking red lights

Muscat: Overlooking red lights means risking lives, said the Royal Oman Police (ROP) in a recently launched report on Youtube.
The report, posted in Arabic by the Public Relations Department of the ROP, reminds the public of the dangers of overlooking red lights. Displaying graphic footage of actual accidents after motorists failed to stop at red lights, the ROP said that accidents caused by running red lights are “the most devastating” and “a major cause of death”.
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Ali bin Mohammed Al Ma’amari of the ROP General Directorate of Traffic noted that “being alert on the road is the prime duty of every motorist, be it at traffic lights or in the street.”
At a traffic light, one must be particularly alert. “Drivers should stick to their lanes and not quickly switch lanes just before the traffic signal”, he said.
Accidents caused by overstepping red lights are especially disastrous, given the speed of motorists rushing to pass, as well as the angle of the resulting accident resulting in frontal collision. These factors maximise the chance of severe injuries and even death, the ROP said in the report.
The report, which appears like a news broadcast, also explained that using a mobile phone while driving, along with the radio and other distractions, might lead to not seeing red lights, forcing drivers to make emergency stops. They might even prove fatal.
“Motorists are often preoccupied with other matters than driving, such as using a mobile phone. Life is not cheap. When people do not think of themselves, then at least they should think about those waiting for them, Muad Al Hinai, an Omani national, said in the report.
An ROP official told the Times of Oman that anyone who fails to stop at a red signal runs the risk of a 48 hour detention, a fine of OMR50 and referral to the Public Prosecution. Also, the offender’s vehicle will be confiscated, he explained.
The ROP recorded 6,717 accidents in 2014, down from 7,719 in 2011, leading to 816 deaths and 3,835 injuries. Statistics indicate that 1,479 accidents were caused by an ‘improper act’ and 606 were due to ‘neglect’.