With most people, including those from neighbouring countries, choosing to travel by road to Salalah, there has been a surge in road accidents in recent days.
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 hospital in critical condition, according to the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority in Al Wusta Governorate.
It may be noted that the Al Wusta Governorate, home to the Wilayat of Haima, reported 85 road accidents in 2022, resulting in 33 people losing their lives.
Last Friday, in a separate incident, the Police Aviation transferred five injured people to Nizwa Hospital for treatment after they were involved in a road accident after midnight in the Qarn Al Alam area.
On Saturday, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) also warned the users of Haima-Thamrait road about low level of horizontal visibility and lack of visibility in some areas due to active winds and blowing dust.
"The enormous speed is responsible for accidents. The police should activate speed control patrols and summon every reckless driver to the nearest station," said a citizen via post following the accident. "Every year we witness these horrific accidents as a result of collisions as the major stretch of the Salalah-Muscat road is a single carriageway, and the tourist season attracts many visitors to Dhofar."
According to experts, overspeeding is the primary cause of road accidents and its severe human and material damage.
Research studies found that reducing the speed by 10 km/hr reduces the probability of accidents by 20 per cent, the number of injuries by 30 per cent, and deaths by 40 per cent.
The Directorate-General of Health Services in Al Wusta Governorate has been reporting emergency cases in various hospitals in the area due to accidents, with travellers suffering light to moderate and serious injuries.
It may be noted that 84 per cent (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 air route.
These include travellers from neighbouring countries. The 1,000-km stretch to Salalah has often turned out to be fatal for some motorists and their families.
The ROP has advised all visitors to the Governorate of Dhofar to abide by 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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