According to the Iranian Forensic Medicine Organization, the number of traffic fatalities in the country has seen a sharp increase after a decade of decline. In 2023, more than 20,000 people lost their lives in road accidents, breaking the previous 12-year record for traffic-related deaths.
The state-run Etemad newspaper, citing data from the Forensic Medical Organization, reported that nearly 20 years ago, the annual death toll from traffic accidents was around 28,000. However, through various measures, this figure was reduced to approximately 16,000 by 2020. Unfortunately, since 2021, the number of fatalities has once again surpassed 20,000, a level not seen since 2011.
Despite numerous traffic laws and safety initiatives, the surge in fatalities has raised concerns. According to Etemad, the government had been legally mandated to reduce road fatalities by 10% annually. Had this goal been met, the number of deaths from traffic accidents should have dropped to fewer than 10,000 by now.
Daily Toll of Traffic Accidents
On September 3, Siavash Mohebi, the deputy commander of Iran’s highway police, highlighted the grim reality of traffic accidents in the country. He stated that, on average, 45 to 50 people die daily in road accidents, with around 1,000 individuals injured every day. Among the injured, approximately 100 people suffer serious disabilities, and 200 families experience a sharp decline in income, often pushing them into poverty.
Mohebi attributed these casualties to the poor quality of cars and roads, noting that the lack of proper infrastructure and substandard vehicle manufacturing are significant contributors to the high fatality rate. “Last year, around 20,450 people died in traffic accidents,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for improvements in both vehicle safety and road conditions.
Economic Impact of Road Accidents
In its report, Etemad also highlighted the significant economic damage caused by traffic accidents. The financial toll is estimated to range between 2% and 7% of Iran’s GDP, and with the current upward trend in accidents, this figure could rise even higher.
On September 7, Taimur Hosseini, head of the Faraja Traffic Police, revealed that 264 fatal accidents occurred in the country just in the past week, resulting in 314 deaths at the scene. Additionally, 8,156 injury accidents were recorded during the same period. Hosseini identified illegal speeding, lack of driver attention, and loss of vehicle control as the three primary causes of these accidents. However, he did not address the role of poor-quality vehicles or road conditions, both of which have been heavily criticized in recent years.
Vehicle and Road Conditions: A Deadly Combination
Many experts believe that beyond human error, the unsafe condition of Iranian vehicles and the poor state of the country’s roads are significant factors contributing to the high accident rate. This was indirectly confirmed by Kamal Hadianfar, head of the traffic police, in 2022 when he mentioned the existence of 5,200 accident-prone spots across Iran, 877 of which are considered high-risk and in urgent need of improvement.
Adding to the problem is the fact that a large portion of Iran’s vehicle fleet is outdated. According to official reports, about 90% of motorcycles and 40% of passenger cars in the country are obsolete. Moreover, much of the public transportation fleet is also worn out, further exacerbating the risk of accidents.
One particularly notorious vehicle is the Pride car, which has been involved in a disproportionately high number of accidents. Between 2016 and 2020, 7,000 insurance claims were filed in relation to Pride car accidents, making it the most frequently mentioned vehicle in insurance damage reports, according to Mehdi Qamsarian, CEO of the Bodily Damage Insurance Fund.
A Global Perspective
The statistics surrounding Iran’s road fatalities are alarming not just domestically but also in comparison to global figures. The number of deaths from traffic accidents in Iran is roughly equivalent to the total number of fatalities in the entire European Union, which consists of 27 countries with a combined population of 450 million.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Iran ranks 15th globally in terms of road fatalities. The country is also among the top 16 nations for traffic-related casualties and disability rates. When factoring in population, Iran ranks 63rd in the world in terms of traffic deaths per capita. Additionally, the Global Road Safety Facility estimates that Iran ranks 16th for the rate of disabilities caused by road accidents relative to its population.
Conclusion
The rising number of traffic fatalities in Iran is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. Despite various laws aimed at reducing road casualties, the country has seen a resurgence in traffic-related deaths, with over 20,000 fatalities in 2023—a 12-year high. While human factors such as speeding and driver inattention play a role, the poor quality of vehicles and inadequate road infrastructure are significant contributors to this crisis. Without urgent action to address these underlying issues, the safety of Iran’s roads will continue to deteriorate, placing more lives at risk.
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