Muscat: Royal Oman Police (ROP) has reiterated stiff penalties for reckless or drunken driving as speeding killed 16 people last week in different parts of the country.
“Speeding and reckless driving continues to take lives on the roads,” said a spokesperson for the ROP on Monday.
A statement from the ROP says that Article 50 of the Traffic Act in the country stipulates stringent penalties for reckless drivers or those driving under the influence of any substance that can affect their brain and pose danger to the general public.
“For reckless driving or over speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol or tranquillisers will face imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and/or a penalty not exceeding 500 Omani riyals,” said the spokesperson for the ROP.
The fine and punishment could be doubled for driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other materials that may affect the brain.
The spokesperson also pointed out that already courts in the country have handed out one to three-month imprisonment and 500 riyals fines to offenders under Article 50 of traffic laws.
“To deter traffic law offenders, the courts are taking prompt action against the offenders,” he added.
Meanwhile, the ROP recorded 106 road accidents in a week, killing 16 and causing injury of various degree to 151 people.
Batinah region in the north of the country saw seven deaths due to traffic accidents while five died in Muscat, two in Al Wusta region, and one each in Dhofar and Al Buraimi.
