MUSCAT: Even as road accidents in Oman have decreased by 60 per cent to 1,539, run-over cases in 2021 increased by 12.9 per cent compared to 2020.
Run-over cases in 2020 stood at 297 claiming 93 lives. Among the victims, 79 were men and 14 were women.
The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) data for 2021 showed improvement in traffic safety indicators during the past five years. Road accidents fell, length of the roads increased so were the number of vehicles.
However, run-over incidents witnessed a rise. Only in the past few days three run-over cases of school students were reported from different parts of Oman, resulting in the death of one student, Hoor bint Hatem al Sadiyah, a tenth-grade student in the Wilayat of Seeb.
Mostly, negligence of vehicle drivers happens to be the main reason for accidents; run-over accidents, however, have multiple causes. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) called on citizens and residents to be careful while crossing roads and ensure that the road is clear of vehicles, especially the main roads.
Punishment for a run-over is imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month and a fine not exceeding RO 300, or one of these two penalties, for anyone who drives a vehicle on the road with negligence or lack of caution. The driver shall be punished with the same penalty if any of these acts result in a person’s illness or that person is disabled from work for a period not exceeding 30 days. If the period of illness or suspension from work exceeds 30 days, the driver shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and a fine not exceeding RO 500. If any of these acts results in the death of a person, the driver shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than three months and not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding RO 2,000.
