Muscat : The campaign, spearheaded by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), aims to raise awareness about the serious dangers of using mobile phones while driving, and promote safer and more responsible behaviour on the roads.
As part of the campaign, an awareness exhibition will be held from April 13 to 17 at the Mall of Oman in Muscat. The exhibition will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Issa bin Hamad Al Azri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Judicial Council, and will feature educational displays, interactive activities, and outreach efforts focused on traffic safety.
Brigadier Engineer Ali bin Hamoud Al Falahi, Director General of Traffic at the Royal Oman Police, explained that the theme ‘Driving Without a Phone’ reflects a unified Gulf-wide commitment to combat one of the most dangerous behaviours affecting traffic safety today. He stressed that mobile phone use while driving causes distraction and lack of focus, leading to serious and often avoidable accidents.
He pointed out that despite growing awareness, many drivers continue to engage in this behaviour due to overconfidence, time-saving habits, or a lack of understanding about the risks. International statistics show that at least 25 percent of traffic accidents globally are linked to mobile phone use, including texting, calling, or browsing apps while behind the wheel.
To address this, the ROP has implemented a range of awareness strategies through schools, universities, and collaboration with traffic safety institutes. These efforts have contributed to a noticeable drop in traffic accidents and injury rates in recent years, even as the number of vehicles and drivers continues to rise.
On the technical front, the ROP has begun deploying advanced smart systems powered by artificial intelligence to detect and monitor mobile phone use while driving. These AI-based cameras can identify violations in real-time without human intervention and are being used to improve traffic flow, monitor congestion, and support law enforcement operations across the Sultanate.
Brigadier Al Falahi noted that traffic safety is a shared responsibility and urged all members of society—particularly young drivers—to completely refrain from using their phones while driving. He called for continued cooperation between citizens, institutions, and authorities to help create safer roads for everyone.
