SULTANATE OF OMAN

ROYAL OMAN POLICE

TRAFFIC LAWS - 2018

By - Govind Kumar
HSEO - MONENCO
 SULTANATE OF OMAN
ROYAL OMAN POLICE

TRAFFIC LAWS -2018

Sections Covered –
 Registration and Licensing of Vehicles

 Durability and Security of Vehicle

 Driving License

 Traffic Rule and Etiquette

 General and Final Provisions

 Measures and Penalties

 SECTION 1- REGISTRATION AND
LICENSING
 Article 2 – Vehicles should not be operated on road except after registration
and obtaining a valid license.
 Article 3 – The license to fulfill the following conditions –
a) To be registered with administration and to be assigned a certain number.
b) The vehicle meets the requirements of durability and security.
c ) Inspecting the vehicle technically in time and place designated by the
Department of Management to ensure that the conditions of durability and
security are met.
d ) Valid insurance.
o Article 11 – Each vehicle placed on the road shall bear two number plate for
itself , one at the front and one at rear . Change of painting, data or form is
prohibited until obtained permission from authorities in case of modification
its subject to seizure of vehicle and cancel of license.

o Article 14 – In case of any modification to vehicle with respect to its base,

engine and structure the owner must intimate the department in writing with
respect to changes to modify the license data with new specification post
technical inspection from authorities to confirm that modification was done
in accordance with technical regulations for durability and security.
 SECTION 2 – DURABILITY AND SECURITY
 Article 16 - The license to operate the automated vehicle shall not be issued unless it
is designed and manufactured as per specifications and all parts shall be solid, sound
and fully installed. vehicle should always be maintained in good manner for use and
conduct to ensure it doesn’t cause any harm to people or animal on road and it doesn’t
cause any property damage.

 Article 17 – Each vehicle must contain the following parts –

a) A strong base with capacity to take pressure and ability to carry load.
b) Engine designed to fit vehicle use.
c) A solid device to driving free from backlash.
d) Two brakes – hand brakes or device that control all wheels of vehicle.
e) Horn f) Silencer by tube
g) Reflective Mirror, h) Windshield wiper,
I ) Device to reduce the brightness of head lamps
j ) Indicators and break light,
k) Speedometer
l) backup devices and tools.
 Article 19 – Its barred to use reflective glass in any vehicle or installation of
number plate with reflective stickers . Use of reflective lights, lamps, alarms,
or placing of opaque glass or other additives on or inside the body of the
vehicle is not allowed.

 Article 20 - The police shall stop any vehicle that does not meet the
conditions of durability and security or the conditions stipulated in the license,
and deliver them to The Department or the nearest police station. If it becomes
apparent from the technical inspection of the vehicle that none of these
conditions have been satisfied, its license and its numbers shall be withdrawn,
without prejudice to the prescribed penalty.
 SECTION 3 – DRIVING LICENSE
 Article 21 – At no cost any driver is allowed to drive any vehicle without obtaining
driving license from the department.
 Article 22 - Types of Driving Licenses:
a) Light driving license - Entitles the licensee to drive the vehicles the weight of
which does not exceed (6) tons.
b) Heavy Driving License - Entitles the licensee to drive the vehicles the total weight
of which exceeds (6) tons.
c ) Driving License Equipment - Allows the licensee to drive the equipment to which
he is authorized to lead.
d ) Motorcycle Driving License - Licenses permit the driver to drive all types of
motorized bicycles.
o Article 24 - The driver of the vehicle must carry his license while driving and submit
it to the police whenever they ask him to do so.
o Article 25 - If the owner of the driver's license is damaged or lost, he must inform the
administration or the nearest police station immediately.
o Article 25(a) - No one shall obtain more than one driver's license of the same type or
waive the license or pledge it, nor shall be delivered to others for use.
 ETIQUETTES
 Article 32 – All drivers to follow the instructions of Police with regards to traffic rules,
signals and signs, maximum and minimum speed limits.
 Article 33 - Vehicles, animals or objects on the road may not be left in a situation that
would endanger the lives or property of others or disrupt traffic or hindered.
 Article 35 - It is prohibited to drive any vehicle under the influence of drugs’ or alcohol
or in a way those poses danger or endanger the lives of persons. Violation is subject to
withdrawal of license with out prejudicing the prescribed penalty.
 Article 36 - The Inspector General may specify places where it is not possible to stand
except for a specified period, provided that a decision is made to organize parking in
these places.
 Article 37 - The road may not be occupied, modified, excavated, or obstructed traffic
unless authorized by the Department in coordination with the concerned authorities.
 Article 38 – In case of any accident resulted in any injury or damage to public or private
property must be informed to police immediately no person or workshop shall repair the
vehicle which has got accident without obtaining permission from authorities.
 Article – 40 – Racing is not allowed on roads at any cost.
 SECTION 5 – GENERAL AND FINAL
PROVISIONS
 Article 41 – Owner of the motor vehicle shall not entrust the vehicle to a person
other than the holder of driver license who is authorized to lead the vehicle.

CHEC
K

 Article 42 - The police may ask the owner of the vehicle the name and address of
the person who was driving, at the time of committing any offense. If he refrains
from giving information or deliberately giving incorrect data, he shall be
punished by the penalty prescribed by law.
 SECTION 6 – MEASURES AND
PENALTIES
 Article 49 - Without prejudice to the measures prescribed in this law any person who
commits any of the following acts shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not
exceeding three months and a fine not exceeding 300 riyals –
a) Violation of the provisions of Articles (2, 3, 11, 14, 21, 24, 25 ,26, 27) of this Law.
b) Any person who has submitted to the authorities false information, submitted false
documents or intentionally proved incorrect data in forms or applications.
c) The driving of a motor vehicle free of brakes of either type or all of its brakes or one
of them is not suitable for use.
d) Driving of vehicle without a valid 3rd party insurance.
e) Intentionally disable or obstruct traffic on the road.
f) Driving the vehicle in opposite direction.
g) Conducting or organizing a race .
 Article 50 - Without prejudice to the measures prescribed in this law any person who
committed one of the following acts shall be punished with imprisonment for a period
not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding 500 rials –
a) Driving on the road quickly, recklessly, without any trace, under the influence of
alcohol, anesthetic or other psychotropic substances, or endangering the life or
property of persons.
b) Committing an act of immorality.
c) Use of the vehicle in a manner other
than the purpose indicated by the
license to run it.
d) Driving an automated vehicle whose driver's license or license plates were revoked
or if a license to operate it was canceled or the driver's license was withdrawn or
canceled.
o Article 51 - Without prejudice to the measures prescribed in this law a person who
commits any of the following acts shall be punished with imprisonment for a period
not exceeding thirty days and a fine not exceeding
150 riyals –
a) Violation of the provisions of articles -2,17,18,19 of this law.
b) Violation of traffic rules and ethics.
 Article 53 - The penalty provided for in articles (49, 50 and 51) shall be doubled in
the case of repeated violations within the six months following the commission of
the previous offense.

 Article 54 - The Court shall, upon conviction, convict the accused of any of the
offenses provided for in this Law, order that the driver's license be revoked, the
license to operate the vehicle and its number plates shall be revoked, or any of them
shall be withdrawn for a period not exceeding one year.

 Article 56 - If the driver of the vehicle is accused of committing a murder or an error

while driving the vehicle, or if the injured person seeks compensation that the
defendant did not accept, he cannot withdraw. In such cases, the driver's license,
license to operate the vehicle and its license plates may be withdrawn or withdrawn.
The criminal proceedings are adjudicated thereafter.
 NEW SYSTEM W.E.F MARCH 2018
ROP has introduced a black point system to make driving in Oman safer.
a) The ‘black point system’ ensures motorists receiving more than 12 points in a calendar
year will have their licenses suspended for six months. “After getting the license back
(after six months), if the motorist gets more than 12 points in the following year, the
license will be confiscated for a year.

b) “If the motorist gets more than 12 black points in the third year, the license will be
cancelled. The motorist will have to pay RO100 and reappear for the driving test.
Accumulated black points will be reset to zero at the beginning of every year,” an ROP
official said.

Black Points as applicable

c) Under the new laws, seat belts have become mandatory for all passengers including
those in the back seat. Child seats are also mandatory for those under four years.

d) Omani drivers who get six or less black points during the probation period will qualify
for a ten-year license while expats will get a two-year license in a similar case.

e) If the driver repeats the offense of using a phone within 90 days, he will be detained
with the vehicle .
Follow Rules, Drive Safe, Be
Happy…!

Thank You