Al Maskry Rent a Car

DRIVING TIPS & SAFETY MEASURES HOME

The Sultanate of Oman has some of the finest roads in the world. The condition of the asphalt is excellent, traffic lanes are well defined, signals, driving regulations and guidelines clearly posted at regular intervals. Motorways link Muscat with all major cities and towns in Oman. There are excellent roads leading to Dubai. An international driving license is valid in Oman.

Observe speed limits. Don’t drink and drive - offenders can incur detention, severe fines, prison sentences and possible deportation. If you have a motor accident, remain with your vehicle and immediately report to the police. It is an offence to leave the scene of the accident before the police have arrived.

Local residents and expatriates have to take a driving test before a license is issued.

Vehicles are driven on the right side of the road. It is essential to carry vehicle documentation and driving licenses.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence and is strictly prohibited.

Oman is a mountainous and rocky land; you are advised to practice extreme caution while driving. Vehicles could appear at anytime, and the beaches could be impassable during heavy rains.

Seat belts should always be worn when driving. All passengers should be properly buckled up. Anyone caught driving without a seatbelt will be fined.

It is not advisable to travel at night or to travel alone. The roads are well maintained but they are not well designed. It is not really dangerous to drive in Oman but it is always good to be careful.

Please note that the incidence of road accidents is very high in Oman, compared to other countries in the world. This is primarily due to over-speeding and bad driving. Road safety programs are always being updated in Oman to make their roads better for drivers. The authorities are looking into strengthening and improving existing traffic laws.

Just like driving in any foreign land, it is mandatory that you practice caution if you are not familiar with the country’s actual road conditions.

Road conditions, lighting, and traffic safety in cities and on major highways are good. The condition of rural roads varies from good to poor.

Taxis, minivans, and small buses may swerve to the side of the road to pick up passengers with little notice or regard for other vehicles.

A 4WD is highly recommended if you are planning to drive in wadis (unsealed valley roads in river beds). Also, ensure that you have an experienced guide and a 4WD that is well-equipped to handle any emergency if you are planning to go on off-road desert adventures (known as "wadi-bashing") in Oman.

Driving in Oman can become very dangerous in the case of a slight rainfall. This is of course true everywhere, but the combination of very smooth roads and possibly, previous long periods of drought must be the cause of exceptionally slippery surfaces.

Roadside safety
•	Get your vehicle completely off the road and away from traffic.
•	Never stand near the edge of the highway while checking the vehicle.
•	Turn on your hazard warning flashers and raise the hood to warn traffic and signal that you need assistance.
•	If you decide to wait for professional assistance, stay inside your car with the windows up and the doors locked.

Flat Tires
•	Park on a level and solid surface. Apply parking brake and shift manual transmission into "Reverse" or automatic transmission into "Park".
•	If you decide to change your tire yourself, follow your vehicles' specific jacking instructions listed in your owner's manual.
•	Never change tires when vehicle is on a slope, ice or slippery area. Also never change tires if oncoming traffic is close to your vehicle.
•	Observe the mileage limitations on the temporary spare, and return jack and other tools to their proper and secure locations when finished.

Overheating
On extremely hot days, be sure to keep an eye on the temperature gauge. If you're running hot, make sure to shut off the air conditioner and roll down the windows. If this doesn't lower the temperature, turn on the heater to get coolant circulating through more of the engine.

If the temperature rises beyond the normal range, stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Continued operation of an overheated engine will cause serious damage, so pull over to a safe place and raise the hood. Be extremely careful of radiator and hoses, which may be spraying steam and hot coolant. Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.

If vehicle overheated because of a long hill or from sitting in traffic on a hot day, run the engine at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpms) until temperature returns to normal.

If there's coolant leak, broken belt or other malfunction, shut off the engine. After the engine cools, check coolant reservoir while engine is running and bring the vehicle to a dealer.

More Driving Safety Tips
Be meticulous and regular with your vehicle checks. Clean the front and rear windscreen, rear view mirrors daily. Visually inspect the tyres. Also, don’t forge to run a check on the wipers, head lamps, turn signal lamps. It is also a good idea to test the brakes for effectiveness. Listen for any abnormal noise from vehicle carefully and report immediately to Al Maskry Rent-A-Car office.

If you have a motor accident, remain with your vehicle and immediately report to the police. It is an offence to leave the scene of the accident before the police have arrived.

Watch out for camels and sandstorms especially when you are on the highways outside city limits. Exercise caution especially when camels are trying to cross the road or are nearby the highway. It’s always a better idea to stop or slow down and let them cross or get away from your vehicle. Accidents involving camels can be quite fatal.

Emergency Assistance
Please contact the Royal Oman Police (ROP) in case you require any emergency assistance on the road or on the occasion of an accident. The ROP hotline number in Oman is 999. For more information, click here to visit the ROP website.