10 day jail for using mobile phones while driving : Oman

Muscat: Texting a message from your blackberry or talking to someone over mobile phone while driving? Well, you need to think twice now! For, it can land you in jail, a senior official of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said on Saturday. Under the new road safety campaign, which kick-started on May 1, motorists can be sent to 10 days in jail for using mobile phones while driving. "This careless driving law is currently applicable in Muscat only which will be gradually implemented to other areas in the sultanate of Oman,- the ROP official told Times of Oman on Saturday. Earlier, people were fined just RO10 for using mobile phones while driving. So, from Barka roundabout to Wadi Kabir roundabout, anybody found using mobile phones while driving is likely to be arrested and on the following day they will be produced to the Public Prosecution. "People will now have to park their vehicle in the parking areas and make calls or use SMS service as we strong believe that a moment's distraction can make a difference between life and death on Muscat roads,- the official said. The road safety campaign will conclude on July 31. "But even as the campaign ends, this law is likely to stay,- the official said. The ROP says they were forced to implement the new rule because of the growing number of road accidents in Muscat. "We started off the campaign from Muscat as it is the capital where motorists need to understand the importance of road safety,- the official noted. According to the ROP, motorists using mobile phones while driving face a 400 per cent higher risk of accidents as their reaction time significantly slows down. "It's just driving under the influence of alcohol where you have little control over yourself,- the official said. He also said that some motorists even drive through when the traffic signal shows red as they are too busy on their touch screen phones or I-pads. "The mobile phones have become a necessity as they offer several advantages as far as communication is concerned. But people should not use them while driving,- the official added. To get hold of the offenders, the ROP has installed multi-functional mobile cameras on their patrol vehicles to monitor the speed of vehicles and record behaviour of motorists. "So traffic violators can now be filmed and sent to jail,- he said, while explaining the importance of radars in the country. He added: "These are devices that can help amend the driving habits of motorists. This will ensure their safety and will ultimately cut down the number of accidents.- The number of deaths caused by accidents on Oman's roads increased 27 per cent to 1,044 people in 2011 from 820 in 2010.