BE ALERT, ACCIDENTS HURT

Road accidents in Oman have reduced in the last few years. The numbers fell 81% in ten years – from 8,209 accidents, 4,514 injuries and 1,139 deaths in 2012 to 1,539 accidents, 1,621 injuries and 434 deaths in 2021. But some roads, like the Bausher-amerat road, continue to be prone to accidents. Last Thursday, a truck driver died in an accident on the road. What measures should be adopted to stop loss of life on the road. Which other roads need additional safety measures to prevent accidents? Here’s what Muscat Daily readers said –

Amal K Abey

Orthodontist

I would suggest using a low gear to tackle gradient slopes. Moreover, it is better to place guards to prevent cars from falling off the cliff. The speed limit must be reduced and speed cameras installed.

Samuel Jacob

Salesman

The best way to prevent accidents is to have more public awareness campaigns about responsible driving, road safety and the potential dangers on the Bausher-amerat road. There must be regular road signs, speed breakers and speed cameras. Severe penalties must be levied for usage of phones..

Mohammad al Balushi

Salesman

Addressing safety concerns on the Bausher-amerat road is the need of the hour. The road must have wider lanes, effective signage and better lighting. Implementing strict speed limits and deploying speed cameras on the road will discourage reckless driving.

Chaamu Balaji

Fitness and nutrition specialist

Making use of the rear-view mirror, not talking on the phone while driving, not driving under the influence, and indicating when changing lanes (90% drivers don’t do) are basic safety rules to prevent accidents. Sorry for the loss of life last week.

Jai Singh

Engineer

There should be speed cameras to deter speeding.

Salim Javed

Public sector employee

Regular inspection of high-risk areas and implementation of safety measures, such as additional road signs and speed breakers, must be carried out at the earliest. Police vans and stricter penalties for traffic violations on accident prone roads can act as deterrents, reinforcing the importance of adhering to safety regulations.

Muscat Expressway, too, needs more safety measures.

Nusrat Zuberi

Educator

Roads should be monitored via cameras. Vehicles should adhere to the speed limit recommended. Moreover, I feel huge boards should be installed to warn commuters about the dangers of overspeeding, usage of mobile phones and to avoid all other distractions while driving. Speed breakers should also be installed to slow down speeding vehicles.

Jaya Chabbi

Science educator

Life is precious, whether it’s mine or others. Careful driving can be the only solution. Boards mentioning ‘Accident-prone zone’ and ‘Speed kills’ should be installed at short distances. Speed limits and cameras are already installed. However, the speed limit can be reduced, smart cameras can be installed to catch mobile usage, and more speed cameras installed at short distances as people reduce speed only when they see the camera.

Nasra al Toqi

Income auditor

I would recommend a new alternative route be developed and the BausherAmerat road be used for tourist attractions. It can have restaurants and activities to woo tourists.

Syed Awaan

Student

The Bausher-amerat road needs safety upgrades like guardrails, better signage and markings. Consider traffic management and improved maintenance. Long-term solutions might involve tunnels or alternative routes, but responsible driving remains key.

Ali Hussain

Teacher

A very simple solution which a firstworld country would implement is build a tunnel. Tunnels also cut half the travel time

Sayed Murthala Mohamed Muheez

Accountant

I believe installing proper street lighting, enhancing road signage and implementing stricter traffic regulations can significantly improve safety on the Bausher-amerat Road. Additionally, investing in advanced traffic management systems and educating drivers about responsible driving practices can contribute to reducing accidents.

Sarojini Gopal

Homemaker

Warning signs with catchy slogans and apt pictures can be placed at strategic points to prevent accidents on the Bausher-amerat road.

Asif Rizvi

Marketing manager

People speed excessively since there are no speed cameras. To prevent speeding, there should be appropriate road monitoring cameras.

Irabel Otejam

Digital creator

Shut it down. Let commuters experience the difficulty of having to take an alternative route. Once they experience daily traffic, they will beg for the re-opening of the Bausher-amerat road and drive more carefully to avoid accidents.