OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE Driver Awareness Training 1 OMAN GAS COMPANY BLACKTOP ROAD DRIVING SKILLS 2 DOMESTIC ARRANGEMENTS Emergency Exits Fire Alarms Smoking Policy Toilets Breaks GSM 3 PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS Name, Job and Work Location Nationality Time in Oman Driving experience What do you want from this course? 4 COURSE AIM This course aims to provide drivers at Oman Gas Company the knowledge and skills required to drive safely on interior graded roads and to increase the knowledge and skills of staff who drive company or private vehicles on blacktop roads in the Sultanate of Oman. 5 Session Aims The Aim of the session is to increase the knowledge and skills of Oman Gas Company staff who drive company or private vehicles in the Sultanate of Oman. 6 1899 Britain’s first recorded fatal road accident involving the driver & passengers of a motor car, happened on the 23rd February 1899 in Grove Hill Road, Harrow. Mr E R Sewell a highly regarded driver was demonstrating a wagonette motor car which had a maximum speed limit of 14 mph. Travelling down a hill at a speed reckoned to be in excess of 25 mph, a combination of braking & cornering caused the vehicle to collapse. All six occupants were thrown out of the vehicle. The four rear passengers suffered only bruising & shock, but Sewell & his fellow front seat passenger passenger, Major James Richer, died as a result of head injuries. The accident made front page news for most newspapers & the autocar of 11th March 1899 concluded that Sewell’s pride & selfconfidence caused him to “show off”. The Autocar went on to express the hope that the terrible consequences of this accident would induce other drivers to take greater care & check their desires for madly rushing down hills at top speed. 7 Session Objectives By the end of the course participants should be able to: Identify hazards associated with driving. Understand the defence against hazards. React correctly to the changing driving environment. Have a greater knowledge and awareness of Omani traffic law. 8 Oman statistics 2008 How many road traffic accidents occurred? Answer : 7982 (Fall of 834 on 2007) How many injuries were there? Answer : 10558 (Increase of 2027 on 2007) How many people lost their lives? Answer: 951 (Increase of 153 on 2007) What were the causes of these accidents? Answer: Neglect, Speed & Safety Distance 9 Oman Road Deaths By Cause 2008 Speed? 566 Overtaking? 158 Improper Act? 80 Neglect? 73 Vehicle Condition? 40 Road Condition? 10 Safety Distance? 9 Drunk Driving? 7 Tiredness? 4 Weather Conditions? 2 Sudden Stopping? 1 10 Causes of accidents Lack of concentration. Lack of observation. Lack of anticipation. Excessive speed. Lack of space. Lack of time. 11 12 13 14 Do you think that a small device like this one is the cause of a lot of accidents worldwide? A lot of people don’t. That’s the reason why we ask you to observe closely the following pictures. You will probably change the way you think. 15 Before we start, we warn you that the following slides contain graphic material. These pictures are from a very young girl whose dreams faded once she made the wrong choice of using her cell phone while driving. 16 A simple second of distraction took away her life and dreams. 17 This could have been avoided! 18 There are no second chances. Don’t think this can’t happen to you. 19 WARNING: The following images contain graphic material. 20 21 22 23 24 Roses that never reached their destination 25 DO NOT use it when you drive. Don’t risk your life! 26 Oman Traffic Offences 2008 Mobile phones? 12,938 27 28 SPEEDING IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE BY THE DRIVER For every 15 Kms per hour we drive in excess of 80 Kilometers per hour, we: double our chances of being killed if an accident occurs. The best way to judge the safest speed is · to know the speed limit · to assess the driving conditions. · Constantly watch your speed 29 30 Tailgating - this is What Happens ….. 31 Why Do You Think Drivers Follow Too Closely? They want the drivers ahead to get out of the way. They think they can stop faster than they actually can. They think their response time is good. They have developed a habit of driving that way. They don’t know any better. 32 Oman Traffic Offences 2008 Dangerous driving? 49,665 33 Head On Collisions - the Deadliest of All 34 Oman Traffic Offences 2008 Speeding? 1,753,698 35 Safety Systems Why Wear a Seatbelt? The belt absorbs the force of the crash. It retains you in your seat. It stops you hitting other objects or being thrown from the vehicle. They work – worldwide, fatalities in traffic accidents have been proven to drop by 50% by making seatbelt use a legal requirement. 36 37 38 Oman Traffic Offences 2008 Seat belt? 61,084 39 COMFORT BREAK 40 Signs & road markings 41 42 43 44 45 46 Alcohol WARNING: If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs & you have an accident, you can go to prison & can be deported. Never drink & drive. It is illegal in Oman to consume liquor outside your home or licensed premises. It is an offence to carry alcohol in your vehicle, unless you are transporting it from the place of purchase directly to your residence. 47 Oman Traffic Offences 2008 Drunk driving? 1,695 48 Accidents Accident Check List 1. Carry in your vehicle at all times a copy of the following: Drivers licence Vehicle registration Insurance Labour/residence card Emergency telephone numbers 2. Report non minor accidents to the police. 3. Do not argue with anyone. 4. Do not accept or offer cash as a settlement. 5. Be polite & courteous to the police. 6. If the accident involves injury or death, you can expect to be detained by the police. Tell them you need to contact your Duty Manager and/or PRO. 49 50 TRAFFIC LAW Section Six - Lighting Article (107) Under any circumstances the driver shall lighten his vehicle lights during the darkness (period extending from 15 minutes before the sun set to 15 minutes after its rising) and during any unusual darkness period arising from the dust or mist or storm or hurricane or other during the daytime or when the visibility becomes unclear. 51 Traffic offences The Omani authorities are cracking down on specific driving offences. The table below summarises offences and punishments. In all cases, the punishment will be more severe if the offence leads to death or injury of a third party. OFFENCE Crossing a red (or amber) light. Crossing a yellow line to overtake on the right. Driving under the influence of alcohol. PUNISHMENT 48 hours in custody. A fine of OR75. Impounded vehicle for one week. Where the driver has a record the case will be forwarded to the Courts. 48 hours in custody. A fine of OR75. Impounded vehicle for one week. Driving without a valid licence. The case will be forwarded to the Courts. 52 Zebra Crossings 53 BEWARE! 54 Roundabouts 55 Roundabouts 56 General Rules Give way to traffic from left. Exceptions to this will be clearly marked. Points of entry marked by single broken white lines or studs across road. Keep moving if the way ahead from the left is clear. Watch for vehicles crossing in front and converging from all sides when in the roundabout. 57 Turning Right 58 Straight on 59 Turning Left 60 Turning Right 61 Straight on 62 Turning Left From Inside Lane 63 Turning Left From Outside Lane 64 Yellow Lines 65 66 Oman Traffic Offences 2008 Dangerous driving? 49,665 Drunk driving? 1,695 Speeding? 1,753,698 Seat belt? 61,084 Overtaking? 8,964 Mobile phones? 12,938 67 Practical session Vehicle checks. Instructor commentary and demonstration drive (Blacktop). Student Blacktop Assessment. 68 DRIVE SAFELY 69