Four killed in northern Dhi Qar car crash

DHI QAR — Four people were killed Friday in a collision between two vehicles on the road linking Al-Fajr and Al-Bateera districts in northern Dhi Qar, near the Abu Arabana area, a security source told 964media.

According to the source, “excessive speed” on the single-lane road caused the fatal accident.

Authorities transferred the bodies to the forensic medicine department. Police opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify any responsible parties.

Traffic fatalities remain a major concern in Iraq. Nationwide figures from Iraq’s Ministry of Planning show a 10% decline in traffic deaths in 2024 compared with the previous year.

The annual report listed 11,763 incidents across governorates outside the Kurdistan Region, including 2,103 fatal crashes that killed 2,719 people, down from 3,019 in 2023. Men accounted for 82% of those fatalities.

Authorities continue to cite speeding, poor infrastructure, distracted driving, and weak enforcement as key causes of deadly accidents.

Earlier this month, the Iraq’s General Directorate of Traffic announced that it is to increase the number of traffic cameras and radars in Baghdad, with plans to expand the project to all governorates.