Traffic Safety Expo 2012 advises caution on drinking and driving

At the end of the year 2011, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) registered 1203 offences as those belonging to the category of drunken driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol offences had led to as many as 167 accidents, 15 deaths and 99 injuries within the same period. At present the ROP is doing their best to contain the situation by way of issuing fines, imprisonment sentences and suspension/ forfeiture of the driving licences depending upon the severity of situation.

"Increasing expectations coupled with insecurities, work pressure and peer influence many a time requires an outlet to vent leading an individual to adopt the bottle as a coping mechanism. While many condone such an action, a blind eye may be turned to this kind of behaviour as long as it comes within the individual's personal space. However taking up the bottle while driving could mean someone else's head on the plate. And while the impaired driver may have no care for his own head, his victim might not want to lose his," says Mr. Alawi Almurazza, Traffic Safety Expo 2012.

Preventive measures against drunk drivers may include wearing of seatbelts while driving, ensuring children are secured in child seats, encouraging known members to not take up the wheel while under the influence, not accompanying a drunk driver to any destination but choosing other means of transport, steering clear of any other vehicle whose movements seem to be erratic and reporting any such movements to the authorities. No attempt must be made to follow or stop the drunken driver.

"While corrective actions and preventive measures may be taken, the only course of action that can really control the situation is present in the problem itself-Don't drink while driving" concludes Mr. Almurazza

The Traffic Safety Expo 2012 will be showcasing a wide variety of products, services and solutions related to traffic safety from 10:00 am-1:00pm and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm on the above mentioned dates and invites citizens of Oman to drop the bottle and any such actions that lead to dangerous driving habits.