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 Road Traffic Accident? Enjoy Working & Living In Oman (2 - 4 years?) Leave Oman Fit & Healthy No Injury / Minor Injury! NO YES

Coastal Driving - Some Characteristics Summary - Immature Driving Environment Rule Breaking is Common Erratic / Unpredictable Inconsiderate Roads Difficult

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: Road Accident Fatalities 1997: Road Accident Fatalities 1998: Fatalities - Including 50 children below the age of 6 (not wearing Seat Belts?) PDO Road Safety Figures are comparable with some European countries Note to RTA Fatalities have increased by 20%

The Driver What causes most accidents? 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

A GOOD DRIVER What Keeps you Safe on the Road? “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 “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 Driver’s Handbook, Page 1, Chapter 1, The Stationary Office, UK, The Driver controls 90% of the Risk - see below

What Does it Mean to be a Good Driver? A Good Driver KnowledgeSkills ATTITUDE Training Personal Decision Experience Medically Fit

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 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 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 4WDs - BIG DISADVANTAGES: Large mass / High CG / Long, soft springs Can be difficult to control DANGER OF ROLLOVER

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. Safety Notice displayed inside a Jeep Cherokee

Avoidance: Good Driving Rules - Speed Tyres Driving Course Danger - Rollover 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 - Don’t 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

Vehicle - Pedestrian Collision Likelihood of killing the Pedestrian 30kph - 5% 50 kph - 50% 65 kph - almost 100% That Extra Speed does make a Difference! 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 Avoidance: Speed - Walking Pace!!! Survival: First Aid 5555 School Car Park: - The place where 20 kg children meet 2000 kg vehicles

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 –PDO - Immediate Assistance - (67)5555 –PDO - Vehicle Damage / »Pager Outside Office Hours

Courses Occupational Training International Al Khuwair Tel / Fax / 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 National Training Institute Madinat Qaboos Tel Fax 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!