Yemen Observer: http://www.yobserver.com
Posted in:
Local News
Written By: Fares Anam
Article Date: May 3, 2008 - 5:45:08 AM
The number of traffic car accidents in Yemen during 2007 numbered 14, 740 and resulted in 2781 deaths with 9,148 seriously injured and 10,150 minor injuries, said General Manager Brigadier Abdullah Shebelle.
Shebelle attributes the reasons for such incidents to speed and says that it responsible for 32 percent of the total accidents, followed by negligence of drivers with 12 percent and technical defect rate of 8 percent and natural factors, children drive, and loss of consciousness with only 1 percent.
The death rate and huge number of accidents also increased annually in the whole Arab World with 26,000 deaths and more than 250,000 injured annually by traffic accidents. The accidents have also totaled material losses estimated at around $65 billion , said the Secretary General of Arab Interior Ministers Council, Muhammad Ali Koman
“The Arab world witnessed more than half a million traffic accidents annually and there are increasing numbers of deaths and injuries resulting from such incidents will be increase to 60 percent in 2020, if the situation remains as it is,” Koman said.
Koman called to take actions and necessary measures to face traffic accidents and its effects at all levels to develop radical solutions through development programs for the safety of traffic. He also called to make consultations and agreements among all concerned bodies in these solutions, and must be sustainable and realistic.
“It must be implemented by means and possibilities of human and specific material,” he said.
He stressed the need for reform processes in the areas of legislation, control and rehabilitation, ambulance drivers, and information.