Lakshmi Kothaneth
Safety is an ideal situation for the Eid holidays. This holiday safety encompasses road safety, children’s safety and personal safety. As Thursday sees the beginning of the public holidays in the Sultanate of Oman, corporate houses also backed the public service campaign on spreading awareness on safety during the holidays.
The most important messages that are highlighted are checking vehicle conditions before starting for a destination, following the speed limit, wearing the seat belt and not using a mobile phone while driving.
A major concern is also not to push to the extreme while taking on the duty to drive. “You should have enough rest before setting off to the destination,” said one campaign.
One of the concerns is the extensive travelling that often takes with families’ shuttling from one place to the other.
Some of the governorates have just come out of the impact of a trough of low pressure.
On Thursday too, cloud advection is expected over most of the governorates with chances of isolated rain and there are possibilities of cloud development and isolated rains occasionally thundershowers associated with downdraft over Al Hajar Mountains and adjoining areas, in addition to Al Sharqiya South, Al Sharqiya North, Al Wusta, and Al Dakhiliyah.
According to Oman Met Office’s weather bulletin, there is also a chance for low-level clouds or fog patches at late night or early morning over parts of Al Sharqiya South, Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates and parts of Oman Sea coasts. Another factor drivers would have to bear in mind is that there is a chance for dust rising over the desert and open areas due to strong northwesterly winds.
Salim bin Ali al Harthy, a safety expert who is also a member of the Oman Safety Organisations and Oman Society of Engineers, said: “There are many tips for the safety of the vehicles but I will select Airbag, safety seat belts and driver’s attention to the road as top measures."
When it comes to children’s safety, he said, “Children’s safety during gatherings such as Eid is road crossing by wearing bright colour clothing; using strapping for young kids; talking to children to provide awareness and not to use fireworks in the crowd.” Firecrackers are a banned commodity in the Sultanate of Oman.
The authorities in the Sultanate of Oman have always issued warnings to check the general public against revellers who fire traditional weapons or burst firecrackers during celebrations. These are punishable offences for which fines could go up to RO 3,000.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority has requested the public not to cross-flowing wadis.
Pictures by Khalfan al Ruzaiki
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