Oman's SQU students depict results of negligence on roads in painting

Muscat: “A picture is worth a thousand words,” rings true at the Traffic Safety Exhibition, where students from the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) have displayed artwork depicting the harsh reality of traffic safety in Oman.
Grim, but truthful paintings depicted everyday occurrences on Oman’s roads, such as texting and talking on the phone while driving, which leads to accidents and deadly consequences.
Ghalib Al Ziadi, head of the Organising Committee of the Media Society at SQU, said, “A vehicle is meant to be a modern means of transportation, but unfortunately some of us use it for speeding and reckless activities on the streets.”
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“Some youth say ‘I’m not going to cause an accident,’ but others get into accidents because of their reckless activities. Now they are thinking only of speeding, but the question is: After speeding, what?”
One of the paintings depicts a vehicle that has just met with an accident, with the front bumper crushed while the foreground displays a picture of a mobile phone with the picture of the driver. The painting depicts the harsh truth about drivers taking ‘selfies’ while driving and, most probably, speeding as well.
Another painting shows a family screaming. The mother, children and father are all screaming in fear as they are on the verge of a deadly disaster. The culprit in the photo is a father talking on the phone while driving, who has also failed to wear a seat belt.
The third among many others shows a worn out tyre with streaks of red paint, which simulates blood.
The reality that many nationals and residents see on Oman’s highways is shredded pieces of rubber from a blown out tyre, leading to a major accident, which results in death or severe injury.
“A culture where people regularly check their tyres does not exist here,” said Al Ziadi.
The paintings have been created to raise awareness about the dangers of negligent behaviour on the streets and the grim consequences one might, which are highlighted by these enlightening portraits.