Alarmed by the rising accidents, the Omani authorities will establish a 'National Safe Driving Training Centre'.
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has earmarked 800,000 Omani riyal (about Dh8 million) to set up the training centre and present it to the Royal Oman Police on National Day next year.
The United Nations General Assembly has decided to mark the year 2004 as the 'Year of Road Safety' on the Oman Government's initiative.
The Centre will be constructed on a one square kilometre area in Muscat and have training facilities such as roads and classrooms. The Centre will be established with the cooperation of the Royal Oman Police, who will ultimately run it.
John Malcolm, PDO's managing director, said: "The primary objective in establishing this centre is to train people in driving techniques so that they drive safely. They will also be trained to bring a change in their attitude and behaviour while on the roads."
Khalfan Al Esry, PDO's health, safety and environmental manager, said that a defensive driving training programme has been a great success in PDO and there has been a significant fall in the number of accidents among PDO employees.
