Road safety concerns
Nine injured in crash on Soran-Khalifan road
SORAN — A car crash on the Soran-Khalifan road Tuesday night left nine people injured, according to local traffic authorities.
Mohsen Tahsin, a spokesperson for Soran’s traffic department, confirmed that a Toyota Land Cruiser collided with a Nissan Sunny near the Ali Beg area. “Nine people were injured in the incident,” Tahsin told 964media, urging drivers to reduce their speed and follow traffic signs due to the hazardous road conditions in the mountainous area.
Roads in the Soran area are known for being dangerous due to the terrain. Earlier this month, a Toyota Hilux overturned on the Spilk-Shanadar road near the village of Sinawa, leaving six people injured.
Traffic fatalities are a growing issue across Iraq. Nationally, Iraq recorded 3,019 deaths from traffic incidents in 2023, excluding the Kurdistan Region, with 79% of incidents attributed to driver error, according to the Ministry of Planning.
Additionally, 12,314 injuries were reported from traffic incidents last year, a slight decline from the 12,677 recorded in 2022. Mechanical failures, poor road conditions, and pedestrian behavior were also contributing factors.