Oman has great roads but also some irresponsible drivers

Despite Oman's world-class road infrastructure, the number of traffic fatalities continues to rise alarmingly, which is difficult to grasp. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) report, 586 people died and 1,936 were injured in 1,854 road accidents across the Sultanate of Oman in 2024.
Behind these numbers lies a troubling fact: it is the behaviour of those using the roads that endangers lives. One of the most disturbing figures in the report is the 99 deaths attributed to driver misbehaviour in 2024 — up from 80 in 2023 and 63 the year before.
While the data does not detail specific actions, the use of mobile phones while driving remains a visible threat. Research shows that drivers on their phones — even hands-free — spend roughly 10 per cent of their time outside their designated lane. This seemingly small lapse can unleash chaos, risking the lives of fellow motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
Recklessness behind the wheel takes many forms: speeding, fatigue, intoxication, aggressive overtaking and vehicle defects. Each is a choice — and each is avoidable. Accidents resulting from vehicle collisions (806 cases), run-overs (389) and crashes into fixed objects (338) signal a worrying pattern of negligence.
Among the victims were 235 male drivers, 125 passengers, 131 pedestrians and 95 women — lives lost not in war or calamity, but on everyday roads.
In today's digitally-linked world, staying offline, even momentarily, seems inconvenient. However, convenience must never come before safety. The compulsion to reply to office chats or social messages while driving is symptomatic of a fast-paced culture — one that must slow down when it hits the highway.
Oman's law enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Oman Police (ROP), have embraced technology, deploying AI-powered surveillance to identify violations. Yet, technology alone is not a cure. True change comes from within — from a driver's personal resolve to value life over haste.
The conversation around road safety must shift from fear of penalties to a culture of responsibility. Every driver must recognise that the privilege of driving comes with a duty — not just to passengers, but to society and the nation.
Driver behaviour is a primary factor contributing to the rise in road accidents in Oman, with young drivers, in particular, exhibiting a higher propensity for risky actions and overrepresentation in crash statistics. This is influenced by a complex interplay of personal, behavioural and environmental dimensions, including the significant role of peer and parental influence.
On our greatly blessed roads, there should be no room for reckless driving. It's time for motorists to steer the course with conscience and commitment. Road traffic injuries are currently estimated to be the 8th leading cause of death across all age groups globally and are predicted to become the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.
Road traffic injuries can be prevented. Governments need to take action to address road safety in a holistic manner. This requires involvement from multiple sectors such as transport, police, health, education and actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles and road users.
Effective interventions include designing safer infrastructure and incorporating road safety features into land-use and transport planning, improving the safety features of vehicles, improving post-crash care for victims of road crashes, setting and enforcing laws relating to key risks and raising public awareness.
This requires involvement from multiple sectors such as transport, police, health and education, as well as the private sector and civil society organisations. It requires actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles and all road users.