Oman Police have set up new cameras on Oman’s roads using artificial intelligence to identify when drivers are using their cell phones or committing other traffic violations.
The move aims to detect mobile phone use while driving, as this system, using control cameras, can monitor and record phone-related violations, emphasising the dangers of distracted driving, including delayed reaction times and increased accident risks.
Brigadier Engineer Ali bin Hamoud Al-Falahi, Director-General of Traffic at the Royal Oman Police, said that AI-powered cameras are now operational, capable of analysing images and identifying violations with high accuracy, adding these systems also help monitor traffic flow and identify congestion points and wanted vehicles, having already been tested extensively on Oman’s roads.
“We hope such technologies would effectively reduce violations and accidents as road safety is a societal responsibility that requires the collective efforts of all institutions,” he said.
Statistics show that mobile phone use is one of the main causes of traffic accidents, making this initiative a necessary step towards safer roads.
Brigadier Al Falahi added that using mobile phones while driving is a significant negative behaviour that affects road safety, often leading to distractions and reduced concentration, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
Such behaviour can result in human losses and social repercussions, with international statistics revealing that at least 25% of annually recorded accidents are directly linked to phone use while driving, whether for calls, texting, or browsing.
Despite the inherent dangers, some drivers continue this practice due to overconfidence in their ability to control the vehicle or to save time.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to use technology to improve road safety.
To address this, the Directorate-General of Traffic implements various comprehensive strategies to minimise accidents, focusing on reducing mobile phone use while driving.
These include intensive awareness programmes, delivered through lectures and publications at schools and universities, as well as collaboration with road safety institutes to foster responsible driving culture.
He noted positive responses from the public regarding traffic initiatives and services and urged drivers, especially youth, to adhere to traffic rules and avoid using phones while driving, ensuring a safer environment for everyone.
Amendments to Oman’s traffic law came into force in September, 2018, and saw upto a twenty-fold increase in fines for certain traffic violations.
Under the current laws, the minimum jail term stipulated would range between 10 days and two years, while fines would range between 200 riyals and 3,000 riyals. The government had said that the stiffer penalties are intended to ensure safety and reduce road fatalities and injuries. According to Omani authorities, road accidents kill an average of two people per day on the sultanate’s roads.
As many as 595 people were killed in 2023 road accidents nationwide, an increase from 532 in 2022. Injuries resulting from road accidents totalled 2,129, compared to 2,080 in 2022. The total number of traffic accidents increased from 1,877 in 2022 to 2,040 in 2023, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information.
