traffic accidents in North-East Syria, resulting in 183 deaths 3,543

On Wednesday, the General Directorate of Traffic in North and East Syria issued an official statement on traffic accidents and violations recorded since the beginning of the year. The statement was delivered at the Martyr Jowan Driving School in Hasaka city of Jazira canton.

The statement was read in both Arabic and Kurdish, delivered in Arabic by Colonel Ayman Ibrahim from the Co-Chairmanship of the Traffic Directorate, and in Kurdish by Aisha Ali, the member of the Traffic General Directorate's Divan.

The statement indicated that "while the Traffic Directorate in North and East Syria is making great efforts to maintain road safety and protect the lives of citizens, some negative phenomena on the streets still pose a real threat to public safety due to negligence in adhering to traffic rules and disregard for regulations."

The statement revealed the directorate's work since the beginning of the year, with complete transparency and responsibility, emphasizing that the law will remain above all and that traffic safety is not an option, but a national and humanitarian duty.

According to the statement, since the beginning of the current year, the Traffic Directorate has recorded a total of (568,092) traffic violations, including speeding, failure to adhere to traffic signs, driving without a license, random parking, and the use of inappropriate equipment. The statement noted that legal action has been taken against all violators without leniency, with a focus on awareness and deterrence.

In terms of driving licenses, accredited driving schools in the region have issued (45,886) new driver's licenses since the beginning of this year, after applicants underwent theoretical and practical training courses. These courses aim to enhance driver competency, promote the culture of safe driving, and emphasize that a license is not merely an official document, but rather a moral obligation and responsibility towards oneself and society.

Regarding traffic accidents, (3,543) accidents were recorded during this period, including (812) minor accidents, (1,673) moderate accidents, and (1,058) serious accidents, resulting in (1,879) injuries and (183) deaths.

According to investigations, most of these accidents were caused by excessive speed, being distracted by the phone while driving, failure to adhere to safe distances, and fatigue during night driving.

During field campaigns conducted by the Directorate this year, (3,872) xenon lights, (683) spotlights, (74) horns, (52) police lights, (124) federal lights, (345) headlights, (12) anti-theft lights, (1,002) lanterns, (263) motorcycle baffles, and (98) tinted glass were confiscated. The statement emphasized that these devices are not merely cosmetic, as some believe, but rather pose a real danger to drivers and pedestrians and have caused numerous accidents due to visual and acoustic disturbance.

The statement added, "Out of our concern for everyone's safety, the Traffic Directorate calls on all citizens and drivers to adhere to speed limits on the roads, always wear their seatbelts, refrain from using their mobile phones while driving, regularly check the condition of their tires, brakes, and lights, avoid driving while tired or drowsy, especially at night, refrain from installing any unauthorized equipment such as xenon and powerful headlights, and report any reckless drivers or dangerous behavior on the road."

The Traffic Directorate in North and East Syria emphasized that the road belongs to everyone and its protection is everyone's responsibility. It added, "We are clearly announcing these numbers because we believe that transparency is part of security and that awareness is the foundation of prevention. The next phase will be one of strict enforcement of the law against anyone who disregards people's lives or puts them at risk."

The Directorate clarified that its goal is not to impose fines on citizens, but rather to protect lives. It is not seeking fines, but rather awareness and discipline to make the region a model of order and responsibility, and to make respect for the laws a daily practice that reflects the awareness and progress of the people.

After the statement was concluded, the Traffic Directorate damaged all confiscated items as part of its field campaigns.