Public outcry following Izki school bus accident

Triggers nationwide grief, demands for strict enforcement of school transport safety regulations Izki – A tragic school bus accident in the Al Rassais area of Izki claimed the lives of three children and the bus driver, prompting nationwide grief and urgent calls for stronger safety measures in school transportation. Royal Oman Police (ROP) confirmed the […]

Triggers nationwide grief, demands for strict enforcement of school transport safety regulations

Izki – A tragic school bus accident in the Al Rassais area of Izki claimed the lives of three children and the bus driver, prompting nationwide grief and urgent calls for stronger safety measures in school transportation.

Royal Oman Police (ROP) confirmed the accident in a statement posted on its official X account. According to the statement, the school bus overturned after colliding with a stationary object.

Twelve other children sustained injuries of varying severity and were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

The accident has raised widespread alarm among citizens, with many demanding an immediate review of existing safety protocols concerning school transport.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Musa al Hadi, a resident of Izki, highlighted the absence of basic safety features in many school buses. “Most buses lack seatbelts, which significantly increases the risk of injury. Parents also share some responsibility, as many do not insist that their children wear seatbelts. Ensuring children’s safety is a collective responsibility – it begins at home and must be enforced by the authorities,” he said.

Moamen Mohammed, another citizen, called for penalising drivers if their negligence is found to be the reason behind any accident. “If the driver was distracted or using a mobile phone, the punishment must be severe. These are children’s lives – we cannot treat this lightly,” he stated.

Abu Anas, a parent, added, “School bus accidents are becoming an all-too-common concern. Some buses have worn-out tyres, drivers themselves fail to wear seatbelts, exceed speed limits, or use their phones while driving. These practices must be dealt with decisively.”

The accident has reignited calls for the use of technology in monitoring school transport.

Khalid Khalfan, a father of two school going children, urged authorities to mandate the installation of surveillance cameras and GPS tracking in all school buses. “Monitoring systems should be directly connected to ROP. We cannot continue to rely solely on manual oversight.”

Dr Hamad al Azri, another citizen, emphasised the dangers posed by reckless driving and mobile phone use. “Even if this particular accident was not caused by such behaviour, phone use and speeding are widespread problems. We must impose heavy penalties on offenders, and buses found in violation should be impounded.”

According to transport safety expert Khalid al Balushi, the accident in Izki reveals systemic shortcomings requiring national reform.

“This tragedy highlights serious flaws in the school transportation system. Oman needs a unified national framework that includes driver certification, regular vehicle inspections, real-time GPS and camera monitoring, and strict enforcement,” Balushi told Muscat Daily.

He added, “An independent oversight body should be established to carry out surprise inspections and publish compliance reports. Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors must work together to foster a culture of safety.”

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