(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The ROP confirmed that the accident which killed eight persons last week in Qarn al Alam, (six Yemenis, two Emiratis), was caused when the front left tyre of the bus burst, causing it to veer into a truck in the opposite lane.
Ali al Barwani, CEO, Oman Road Safety Association, said, 'We don't know the full details of the accident yet, but as a general rule, we advise to keep track of vehicle maintenance and have journey plans. We highly recommend a checklist is made as a matter of routine. IVMS systems which track commercial vehicles and driver behaviour are also recommended.'
The authorities have already tackled the issue of tyres, said Barwani. 'A couple of years ago, in a move towards increased road safety, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) in coordination with the ROP, issued a new regulation that banned sale of used tyres. Even though our current specifications in Oman are very good, there is always room for improvement. We could, as in other countries, set-up inspection points to weigh trucks, in the future.'
Barwani also suggests road users and company operators to be aware of the condition of the vehicles. Speaking to Muscat Daily, a heavy duty fleet manager in charge of 37 vehicles said, 'While we don't know the condition of the tyre before it exploded, I believe this accident could've been avoided. Cost cutting is required to stay competitive but a line should be drawn when it comes to safety – especially in front tyres. The model of coach involved in the accident has dual tyres in the back which means a blown out tyre at the rear would not have caused it to veer into the other lane.'
He added, 'When it comes to heavy vehicle transportation in this region, buses are more prone to tyre issues because they do longer stretches at higher speeds when compared to trucks. In the summer, temperatures hover around 50°C, and long distances are covered at high speeds. Add to that sub-par front tyres, and it's a recipe for disaster. Also, bus drivers know most speed radars are calibrated to trigger when a light vehicle goes over the speed limit, so they take advantage of that and go as fast as cars. We use Chinese tyres in our fleet, but there are grades. We equip our vehicles with EU specification tyres and try to plan ahead so we have fresh sets at the peak of summer,' he added.
Hamood Said al Amri who manages a fleet of 25 heavy vehicles, said, 'Oman is one of the strictest countries in the region in terms of regulation. Some sub-standard products are sold elsewhere, but sellers and transport companies are closely monitored by the authorities here. To get lucrative oil and gas industry contracts, we have to adhere to the demanding standards set by the industry.'
A Salalah-based transport company manager in charge of 21 vehicles said, 'In order to avoid such incidents, my drivers work at night whenever possible. That eliminates the problems of extreme heat which damages tyres even if there is no catastrophic failure, and the problem of traffic, which also affects fuel consumption. My drivers have been trained to do basic checks daily and every fourth day, a technician carries out a physical inspection of vehicles. We change our tyres every 60,000km.'
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