Wednesday 27 / August / 2025
Muscat: With the start of the new academic year and increased traffic around schools, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has launched a comprehensive traffic plan aimed at easing congestion and ensuring the safety of students.
Brigadier Engineer Ali bin Salim Al Falahi, Director General of Traffic, said the plan includes intensified police presence on main roads, bridges, intersections, and near schools, along with close monitoring of violations. He emphasised that student safety remains a top priority.
Recent years have shown a decline in road accidents, which the ROP attributes to joint efforts with the Ministry of Education and road safety institutes. Measures such as installing speed bumps, road signs, and maintaining a visible police presence have all contributed to safer school zones.
The Directorate has also focused on training school bus drivers, with more than 497 drivers already certified through specialised programmes. Plans are underway to expand training across all governorates, involving teachers, administrators, and parents to reinforce community responsibility for students’ safety.
According to Brigadier Al Falahi, the most common violations around schools are speeding, failing to give priority to pedestrians, and unsafe overtaking.
To combat this, awareness campaigns are being held through workshops, social media, school activities, and distribution of educational materials.
The ROP is also working with private-sector partners, including Shell Oman through the “Via Road Safety” programme, which targets students aged 8 to 18 with interactive content designed to promote safe road behaviour.
Colonel Staff Khamees bin Ali Al Batashi, Assistant Director General of Traffic, underlined that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation among families, schools, and drivers. He called on motorists to slow down near schools and prioritise students’ safety.
