Skip to main content

Iraqi Kurdistan Takes Steps To Improve Road Safety

Traffic accidents remain a major problem in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as the government takes a number of steps to address the issue and improve car safety, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari.
A Kurdish policeman directs traffic next to a pro-constitution poster in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil October 5, 2005. Iraq's parliament reversed itself on Wednesday over rules governing a forthcoming constitutional referendum, interpreting wording in a way that should make the October 15 ballot fairer, the assembly's acting chairman said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari - RTR18THD
Read in 

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.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.