Local newspapers in Iraq's Kurdistan region describe traffic accidents in the region as "white terrorism." Accidents kill more than two people every day, and they are the third leading cause of death in the province's cities.

Statistics from the Directorate General of Traffic in the Kurdistan region indicate that 567 traffic deaths were recorded in 2012 — including 197 in Erbil, 197 in Sulaymaniyah, 109 in Dohuk, 45 in Garmian and 19 in Soran. More than 3,000 cases of injury were reported, including 969 in Erbil, 1,075 in Sulaymaniyah, 545 in Dohuk, 472 in Soran and 80 in Garmian.

Officials from the Kurdish Ministry of Health noted that of those who are injured, most have severe injuries and become disabled, which results in a heavy burden on their families and health-care institutions.

Statistics show that in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, which has a population of about 5 million, there are roughly 1.1 million cars — about one car for every four and a half people. At the same time, the region lacks sound infrastructure for both internal and external roads.