Road accident deaths drop 52 per cent

Muscat, Jan 2 - The Sultanate has witnessed a drop in number of traffic accidents for the fifth consecutive year, with fatalities decreasing by 52 per cent and injuries by 33 per cent.
Traffic accidents decreased 67 per cent compared with that at the end of 2012, Brigadier Engineer Mohammed al Rawas, Director-General of Traffic,
Royal Oman Police (ROP), said while highlighting some of the ROP’s achievements in the last few years.
Ahead of the Royal Oman Police Day, which falls on January 5, he said speed-related accidents dropped to 63 per cent as against 70 per cent, thanks to the raising of awareness and deployment of speed control devices.
“Efforts are on to reduce accidents resulting from use of mobile phones.”
E-services have contributed immensely in facilitating access to ROP’s services.
It received a 94-per cent satisfaction rate on e-services, according to a survey carried out by the Information Technology Authority (ITA).

Citing the recent Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum, Brigadier Engineer Mohammed al Rawas (pictured) said the Sultanate was ranked first in the Arab region and GCC, and fifth globally for reliability of police services.
The report measures the factors that contribute to the process of production/ prosperity in 140 countries around the world.
The report ranked the Sultanate first in the world in terms of the incidence of terrorism and absence of terrorist attacks.
According to him, reducing traffic accidents requires a number of measures, including improving the road environment, raising awareness, establishing laws and ensuring compliance with these laws.