As many as 371 people were killed in road accidents in 2020 compared to 511 reported in 2019, according to the Royal Oman Police (ROP). 

Figures released by ROP show a drop of 67 per cent in road accident deaths from 2012 to 2020, and 27.4 per cent from 2019 to 2020.   

A statement issued by ROP said, ‘Accidents in the sultanate between 2012 and 2020 decreased by 84 per cent, and the number of injuries decreased by 70 per cent. Registered vehicles increased by 58 per cent and the number of driving licences was up 65 per cent.’ 

There were 8,209 car accidents, 4,514 injuries and 1,139 deaths in 2012, compared to 1,341 car accidents, 1,365 injuries and 371 deaths in 2020.  

Figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) show 640 people were killed in road accidents in 2017, 637 in 2018, and 511 in 2019. 

In 2019, 114 pedestrians lost their lives in road accidents, of which 99 were male. Additionally, 252 pedestrians, including 39 women, suffered injuries in road accidents that year.  

Most of the pedestrian deaths were reported in North Batinah (33), followed by South Batinah (23), Muscat (22), Dhofar (9), South Sharqiyah (7) and North Sharqiyah (5). 

Of the 2,120 road accidents in 2019, most were due to vehicle collisions (903) and collision with fixed objects (419). 

Speed (269) was the main cause of death in road accidents in 2019, which dropped from 384 in 2018 and 347 in 2017. 

ROP has launched several safe driving awareness campaigns, including ‘Driving without mobile phone’, to reduce road accidents in the country. 

ROP urges drivers to follow regulations to avoid road accidents.