Local journalists in Iraq’s Kurdistan region pronounce traffic accidents in the district as “white terrorism.” Accidents destroy more than two people every day, and they are the third foremost cause of death in the authority’s cities.
On the other hand Statistics from the Directorate General of Road traffic in the Kurdistan region designate that 567 traffic deaths were noted in 2012 as well as 197 in Erbil, 197 in Sulaymaniyah, 109 in Dohuk, 45 in Garmian and 19 in Soran. More than 3,000 belongings of injury were described, counting 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.
Throughout most of the year, the number of registered cars includes thousands of additional vehicles, from the flow of tourist groups from central and southern Iraq as well as visitors from neighboring countries — particularly Turkey and Iran — traveling in their personal cars.
The region lacks good infrastructure when it comes to roads and bridges, and most of the roads linking major cities are only one-way. Moreover, most internal roads within cities are very narrow. These streets were designed in the 1970s and 1980s, and they do not correspond to the current overpopulation in these cities.
These cities have no means of public transport such as a metro or modern buses, or even trains to link major cities with one another. This forces everyone to use personal cars for daily affairs, and most families — even those composed of only two people — own more than one car.
Cars flow into the region from a number of areas and are available at affordable rates, given the lack of high import duties. In Kurdistan’s streets you will find the latest models of Japanese, Korean, American and European cars, as well as cars made in India, Iran and Turkey.
