Kuwait Times

Published Date: November 16, 2009
By Ben Garcia, Staff Writer

KUWAIT: Kuwait has recorded 410 deaths in road related accidents that took place in the preceding year. The figures have reduced by about 37 percent when compared to 447 deaths that were recorded in 2007. The small slump was dismissed as being insignificant according to Head of Kuwait's Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior, Mohammad Al-Dosairi.

The department projected a 68 percent increase of traffic related deaths by 2015 in the Middle East. Dosairi was speaking yesterday at a ceremony that was held in remembrance for the road traffic victims held at United Nations World Program (UNDP) headquarters in Mishref.

The event is celebrated annually (November 15) as the appropriate acknowledgment for victims of road traffic crashes and their families. "Based on my record, there are at least 26 deaths for 100,000 people in the Middle East. The Middle East is the second largest region in the world next to African region that have the highest deaths in the road (as a result of accidents). We projected the rise of traffic related deaths in the Middle East by 68 percent by 2015," he said.

In his remarks, Dr Saeed Burjeni, UNDP Deputy Assistant Director in Kuwait noted that every road user, regardless of race and professions should be responsible for one's life in the road and should be part of the solution not as mere spectators.

Road mishap takes place at quite an alarming level. All over the world, our record show, one million people died last year as a result of traffic accidents, including over three million injured," Burjeni noted.

He added that one of the main causes of death for children aged between 10-24 is road traffic accidents. For adults in terms of the numbers killed, aged between 30-44, it is the third-most prevalent cause of death.

As we speak, road accidents happen elsewhere around the world. Within a span of six seconds, road accidents happen. We can be part of the solution and accidents can be prevented by driving safely," he said.

Burjeni said that traffic accidents affect the economic development of a country. "We are losing significantly because of traffic related accidents. We are losing not just precious lives of our loved ones, but the billions of dollars that can otherwise be utilized for the welfare and development of any country.

He lauded Kuwait's National Strategic Plan (Program) drafted by the Ministry of Interior in Kuwait which seriously looks into the road- related problems and recommends specific actions to be taken. Initially, according to Burjeni, a ten year plan (program) was charted out by Kuwait to improve the country's main roads in order to minimize traffic jams and accidents.

The plan includes renovation of main roads/highways, and utilizing the use of labor man-power. Al-Dosairi confirmed the strategic plan, (mentioned by Burjeni) noting its immediate execution right after signing (the program). He disclosed that it was due in the next few days.