Muscat: Two people died and seven others, including children, were injured due to a collision between two vehicles in the Wilayat of Haima on Friday.
Emergency medical care was provided to the injured who were taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority in Al Wusta Governorate.
In a separate accident, the Police Aviation transferred five injured people to Nizwa Reference Hospital for treatment after they were involved in a traffic accident after midnight in the Qarn Al-Alam area.
On Saturday, ROP warned users of the Haima-Thumrait Road about the low level of horizontal visibility and lack of it in some areas due to active winds and blowing dust.
"The enormous speed behind the accidents. The police should activate speed control patrols and summon every reckless person to the nearest station," said a citizen via post following the accident.
"Every year we witness these horrific accidents as a result of the collision as a major stretch of the Salalah-Muscat road is a single carriageway and the tourist season attracts road users to the Dhofar."
According to experts, overspeeding is the primary cause of traffic accidents and its severe human and material damage.
According to research studies, it was found that reducing the speed by 10 km/h reduces the probability of accidents by 20 percent, the number of injuries by 30 percent, and deaths by 40 percent.
The Directorate General of Health Services in Al Wusta governorate has been reporting emergency cases in various hospitals in the area due to traffic accidents with travelers suffering light to moderate and serious injuries.
It may be noted that 84 percent (305,350) of the total 396,108 Khareef visitors to Salalah this year (until July 31, 2023) came via road, compared to 90,758 visitors who took the flights.
These may include travelers from neighboring countries.
The 1,000-km stretch to Salalah has often turned out to be fatal for some motorists and their families. Overspeeding, fatigue, and low visibility during rains are often cited as the main reasons for these unfortunate incidents.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) has invited bids for the completion of the remaining work of the Adam-Haima-Thumrait dual carriageway linking Muscat and Duqm to Dhofar.
The ministry has floated a tender for the remaining work of the third, fourth, and fifth phases of the Adam-Haima-Thumrait Road with Omani and Saudi companies registered with the Tender Board expected to bid for the project.
The last three phases – third, fourth, and fifth – of the 400km road project will be a strategic Oman-Saudi collaboration.
The first two phases of the project which constitute 280km have been completed, starting from Adam in the Governorate of Dakhliyah to the wilayat of Haima in the Governorate of Al Wusta.
The 132.5km Phase 3 of the carriageway runs from Haima to Maqshan. The 135km Phase 4 will connect Maqshan to Dokah via Qatbet, while the 132.7km Phase 5 will begin in Dokah and end in Thumrait.
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has deployed special checkpoints and patrol teams on the roads leading to Dhofar Governorate.
The Directorate General of Police Aviation will also support the ROP efforts by providing flying ambulances in emergency cases such as traffic accidents occur that require urgent transportation of the injured.
ROP has advised all visitors to the Governorate of Dhofar to abide by the traffic laws and regulations and the speed limit to ensure their safety and that of others and to pay attention to the presence of stray animals, especially at night, and sands that may accumulate on roads near desert areas.
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