HEWLÊR-Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— The Traffic Directorate General of Iraqi Kurdistan announced on Tuesday that 3,706 traffic accidents occurred in the Kurdish region during the year 2022 in which 455 people were killed and 4,772 sustained injuries.
The directorate statement said that in the past year, there were 2,909 traffic incidents, among which were 528 motorcycle accidents. Tragically, these accidents resulted in the deaths of 623 people and injuries to more than 7,000 individuals. Additionally, 14,614 vehicles and 1,305 motorcycles were seized by the authorities in the same time frame.
A total of 2,041,147 vehicles and 18,819 motorcycles have been registered in the Kurdistan region, according to Brigadier Mohammed Rushdi, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), who made the announcement during a news conference on Tuesday.
In 2021, there were 662 deaths and 7,121 injuries as a result of traffic accidents in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
In 2020, 432 people lost their lives and 4,772 were injured as a result of traffic accidents.
The major causes of death and injury on the roads of Iraqi Kurdistan as being from reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, failing to wear seat belts, not following road signs and aggressive driving, according to a police report.
Driving at night in Iraqi Kurdistan poses a significant danger, particularly on the roads connecting the major cities of Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani. The roads in these areas are narrow and cars must share the same space, making passing other vehicles an extremely dangerous endeavor.
Driving at night in Iraqi Kurdistan is dangerous, particularly between the major cities of Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani. Cars share the same narrow road, where in places overtaking becomes extremely dangerous.
Due to the high number of car accidents that occur on the Duhok-Zakho road, it has gained the reputation of being a highly dangerous and deadly route, often referred to as “the road of death.”
Driving in the Middle East can be risky because many drivers do not adhere to traffic rules and regulations. This can lead to dangerous and unpredictable driving behaviors, such as reckless speeding, failing to yield, and ignoring traffic signals.
Additionally, the road infrastructure in some areas may not be as well-maintained or developed as in other regions, which can further increase the risk of accidents. Furthermore, cultural and societal attitudes towards driving can also be a contributing factor, for example, Many drivers are reckless and aggressive.
source: ekurd