(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Road accidents statistics for 2014 have once again displayed a grim picture for Oman. Although efforts by authorities are beginning to show results deaths from road accidents in the sultanate are still among the highest in GCC.
In 2014 Oman recorded a total of 816 deaths. The number was 712 in UAE 461 in Kuwait 222 in Qatar and 61 in Bahrain as per 2014 figures.
Overall 9910 deaths were reported from across GCC last year. The Oman deaths resulted from a total of 5768 accidents.
As per the National Centre for Statistics and information (NCSI) of the 816 dead 561 were Omanis – a majority of them men.
Another set of statistics released in context with the NATRANS Arabia 2015 conference-led exhibition to be held in Abu Dhabi from October 25-27 shows that the death rate per population (taking World Bank figure of 3.926mn) was 1 per 4811 in Oman.
Statistics show that a death occurs every 10 hours 42 seconds in the sultanate.
In 2013 Saudi Arabia recorded an alarming 7867 deaths from road accidents with a death rate of 1 in every 3801 people.
NATRANS Arabia 2015 will focus on road safety during its Middle East Road Conference and the role of sustainable technology-led solutions in addressing GCC's distressing road safety record.
'With almost 10000 people dying on the Gulf region's roads last year - that's approximately one person every 53 minutes it is clear why the UAE government has set a target of reducing road deaths to three per 100000 population by 2021' said Alex Heuff exhibition director Fleming Gulf the organiser of NATRANS Arabia.
'It is clear that some countries are performing better than others. Bahrain is the safest country in GCC – 61 deaths occurring one every six days on average (1 in 22033 people) while in 2013 Saudi Arabia had the poorest record. Compared to the UK which has one road death per 35695 residents GCC still has a long way to go to it witnesses one road fatality for every 5030 residents. In UAE a road death occurs on an average of every 12 hours with 712 deaths last year (1 in 13295)' added Heuff.
The conference-led exhibition being organised in partnership with the UAE Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime and under the patronage of Dr Abdulla Belhaif al Nuaimi Minister of Public Works and chairman of the authority will examine potential solutions such as wider more accessible public transport Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and the latest safety measures in highway infrastructure development.
Dr Arif Mehmood safety planning specialist in Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport who will speak has underscored the need for a coordinated strategy. 'Over the last five years (Abu Dhabi has recorded) a substantial 35 per cent decline in fatalities from 409 in 2009 to 267 in 2014. This is a huge improvement. However we have not seenmuch progress in reducing the number of non-injury crashes – besides the tragic loss of life. In all traffic accidents cost the economy AED3bn annually.'
The Middle East Road Conference will also examine the progress of the region's mega road project which is set to grow at a rapid pace over the next five years valued at an estimated US$32bn.
The conference will also cover the international traffic management (ITS) parking road safety & maintenance of and transport infrastructure projects such as multimodal systems and management have helped decrease accidents and the use of ITS technology in road safety.
NATRANS Arabia also incorporates the region's sixth Middle East Rail Opportunities Summit where designs of nearly US$200bn in network projects will be presented running from the Gulf coast from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia to the UAE and Oman with branches linking Bahrain and Qatar. These projects will be completed before the end of the first quarter 2016.
'Construction is already in progress and will be fully operational in 2018. Abu Dhabi is spearheading the GCC rail network with its AED40bn (US$10.9bn) Etihad Rail link project which stretches for 1200km from Ghweifat on the Saudi border to south of Fujairah on the Omani border' said Heuff.
The third seminar Middle East Maritime Conference will take an in-depth look at the different investments in the maritime industry which are expected to reach US$66bn in the next three years with the UAE contributing 30-35 per cent of the Middle East's projected total investment valued at US$190bn over the next three years.
Running alongside the conferences will be an exhibition accommodating over 100 companies. It will have four themed zones compatible with the conference topics an extra zone showcasing ITS. The exhibition has already attracted key support from the European Parking Association (EPA) and MAFEX the Spanish Railway Association officials sa
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