Welcome to Oman Driving in Oman Road Safety

Trevor Harrison - CSM/6 Corporate Road Safety Adviser

Driving in Oman is Different!

Arrive in Oman Fit & Healthy

Enjoy Working & Living In Oman (2 - 4 years?)

Road Traffic Accident?

NO

Leave Oman Fit & Healthy

YES

No Injury / Minor Injury!

Coastal Driving - Some Characteristics

Rule Breaking is Common Erratic / Unpredictable Inconsiderate Roads Difficult

Summary - Immature Driving Environment

Interior Driving - Some Characteristics

Graded Roads Wadis Animals - Collision Risk Remote - In the event of an Accident:
may take hours to get help Police Only NO EFFECTIVE AMBULANCE OR FIRE SERVICE

Hostile Environment

Summary - Harsh / Unforgiving Environment

What Are the Risks?

Driving is probably Your Most Dangerous activity
Driving in Oman is some 5 to 10 times more dangerous than driving in Europe
Oman: 1996: - 512 Road Accident Fatalities 1997: - 549 Road Accident Fatalities 1998: - 614 Fatalities - Including 50 children below the age of 6 (not wearing Seat Belts?)

Note - 1966 to 1998. RTA Fatalities have increased by 20%

PDO Road Safety Figures are comparable with some European countries

What causes most accidents?

The Driver
Acts to cause an accident - Deliberate Acts
of Rule Breaking - eg speeding, illegal overtaking

Fails to act to prevent an accident - eg not

looking ahead, not driving defensively

Fails to act to reduce the consequences of an accident - eg does not ensure seatbelts are
worn

What Keeps you Safe on the Road?

A GOOD DRIVER
The Driver controls 90% of the Risk - see below

Root cause analysis, shows that human error accounts for more than 90% of road accidents. - Safety Features of Light Vehicles and Mini Buses.
Shell Health, Safety and Environment Committee, July 1997.

In more than 90% of traffic accidents, human error is the cause; accidents do not just happen by chance, they are the consequences of unsafe driving practices. - Roadcraft - The Police Drivers Handbook, Page 1, Chapter 1, The Stationary Office, UK, 1997.

What Does it Mean to be a Good Driver?

A Good Driver
Medically Fit Experience Knowledge Skills

ATTITUDE

Personal Decision

Training

Expect the Unexpected Be Fully Aware of what is happening around you on the road - at the same time maintain a Relaxed and Detached ATTITUDE Make a Personal Decision that: Safety of People Comes First Anything Else Comes Second

ATTITUDE

Your First Objective should be to: To Complete Your Journey Safely

ATTITUDE

Personal Decision:

Safety of People Comes First Anything else comes second

Some Local Laws

Illegal to Drink and Drive - Permitted Alcohol Level for driving is ZERO
(Check your insurance policy - you are probably not insured if you have been drinking)

Illegal to drive whilst using GSM Illegal to overtake on the right Traffic from the left has priority - traffic
turning right gives way to traffic turning left - see
A Guide to Family Safety, p62

Vehicle Wish List - Safety

Keep the Driver Comfortable and in Control: Good:- Lights / Brakes / Steering / Tyres Accident Mitigation: Mass of at least 1000 kg / 3 point inertia seat belts / air bags / head restraints / side impact protection / roll cage & luggage screen (4WD) Personal Choice

Conceptual Difference - 2WD vs 4WD 4WDs - BIG DISADVANTAGES:

Large mass / High CG / Long, soft springs Can be difficult to control

DANGER OF ROLLOVER 1 Tonne

2 to 3 Tonnes

Saloon Car

4 Wheel Drive

4WDs - BIG ADVANTAGES: High Driving Position / Excellent Visibility Enables: - look ahead / early hazard identification / early reaction to hazards

Safety Notice displayed inside a Jeep Cherokee

This utility vehicle handles and maneuvers differently from many passenger cars both on-road and off-road. You must drive it safely. As with other utility vehicles if you make sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, you may cause this vehicle to go out of control and roll over and crash. You or your passengers may be seriously injured.

Danger - Rollover

Avoidance: Good Driving Rules - Speed Tyres Driving Course

Survival: Speed Seat Belts Rollcage First Aid

Danger - Collision

Avoidance: Good Driving Rules - Speed Safe Distance Rule Defensive Driving ATTITUDE

Survival: Seat Belts Air bags Mass First Aid

Danger - Graded Road: - Collision - Rollover

Avoidance: Good Driving Dust Code Headlights Speed - 80 kph max

Survival: Seat Belts Rollcage First Aid

Danger - Getting Lost - Stuck - Broken-down

Avoidance: Planning / Maps Good Maintenance 2nd Vehicle Equipment: Spade / Rope / Sand boards Air Jack / Spares

Survival: Journey Management Stay with vehicle WATER!

Danger - Rain - Wadis

Avoidance: - Stay home if it is Raining! Roads: - Safe Following Distance Wadis - Slow down - Dont cross unless it is safe - 4WD Low Ratio - IF IN DOUBT WAIT! Survival: Water level can change quickly Reach place of safety if possible

Danger - Driving on Camp

Avoidance: Good Driving Rules - Speed - 50 kph

Survival: Seat Belts First Aid 5555

That Extra Speed does make a Difference!

Vehicle - Pedestrian Collision Likelihood of killing the Pedestrian

30kph - 5% 50 kph - 50% 65 kph - almost 100%

Bullbars make the front of a vehicle more aggressive. In the event of a collision the likelihood of a fatality is increased.

Danger - School Car Park

School Car Park: The place where 20 kg children meet 2000 kg vehicles

Avoidance: Speed - Walking Pace!!!

Survival: First Aid 5555

Night Driving
Avoid it if you can outside of the coastal area: Difficult on graded roads Increased risk of hitting camels and other animals Other vehicles may not be using lights or do not use them properly
Try to complete your journey by sunset

What to do in case of an accident

Documents to carry:
Driving Licence / Motor Vehicle Licence / Labour Card-Expats

Call Police Directly or Call PDO Do Not Move Vehicles Injured people - first aid / common sense Emergency Numbers: ROP EMERGENCY - 999 PDO - Immediate Assistance - (67)5555 PDO - Vehicle Damage - 677488 / 675445
Pager 9124003 - Outside Office Hours

Courses
Occupational Training International

National Training Institute

Madinat Qaboos

Al Khuwair
Tel - 604741 / 695363 Fax 692201 / 692203
Driving: Interior Driving - 1 Day - OR45 Off Road - Day - OR 45 Defensive Driving - 1 Day - OR 85 First Aid: Basic Life Support - 1 Day - OR 25 Practical 1st Aid - 2 day - OR 40 Industrial 1st Aid - 4 day - OR 70

Tel- 605273 Fax - 607720

Offroad Driving - Thursday am (Now cancelled due to lack of interest!) Defensive Driving - Thursdays 8 am to 3 pm - OR 60 Child & Infant CPR 1 Day - OR 22

Enjoy Driving in Oman

Personal Decision: Safety of People Comes First Anything else comes second

Seatbelts Save Lives - Use Them!