In a tragic accident that occurred in Dakhiliyah Governorate on Wednesday morning, an Omani was killed and three others were seriously injured when their vehicle lost control while trying to avoid debris that flew off the back of a pickup truck in front.
The accident has highlighted the risks posed by poorly secured goods and material carried in vehicles, among other dangers that motorists face when imperiled by flying
objects or debris.
According to the Royal Oman Police (ROP) , the offending object was a large piece of shop-front signage that slid off the back of the pickup.
It caused the driver of the car following just behind to suddenly swerve his vehicle in a bid to avoid hitting the object.
The incident occurred in the Al Dhabaniya-Bahla part of the governorate, the ROP said, adding that the injured were rushed to
Nizwa Hospital.
“Lives can be saved and injuries prevented if we pay heed to the importance of fastening cargo and goods safely and securely when transporting them in open vehicles,” an official source said, adding that the law prescribes stringent penalties if negligence and neglect result in potential hazards for road users.
Article 113 of the Executive Regulations of the Traffic Law in Oman states: (i) The cargo load shall be securely fastened without any risk of coming loose or falling off during the journey; the fastening materials or tools should be durable and effective in keeping the cargo securely in place. (2) Carriage of the load shall not result in any hazards to road users or cause damage to any public or private property. (3) Unsecured or poorly secured goods are liable to cause clattering or banging sounds, come loose, or whip up dust or emit gases — all of which can be hazardous and distracting to road users. (4) In carrying goods in vehicles, care should be taken not to hinder the driver’s line of sight, obscure his view of traffic lights or road signage, as well as the vehicle lights, registration plates, and the rearview mirror.
In the event of an accident attributable to unsecured or negligently stowed cargo, the aggrieved party can file legal claims against the driver in question.
Likewise, anyone who has lost a loved one in a fatal accident involving unsecured cargo can pursue damages against the driver or the company that owns the vehicle.
Article 50: Without prejudice to the imposed measurements in this law or any other severer penalty stipulated by other laws, anyone who commits either of the following violations shall be liable to an imprisonment period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding RO 500 or either one of these two penalties.
(1) Driving a vehicle on the road at a high speed or with rashness or without care or under the influence of alcohol or drugs or any other mentally effective material or overtaking at a hazardous location or a place where the overtaking is prohibited or in a manner which constitute a risk or expose the life of others or their properties to hazards and if this results in the death of a person or a harm which leads to a disease or a suspension from work for a period exceeding ten days the penalty shall be imprisonment for a period not less than one year.
Mai al Abria
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