The Iraqi Ministry of Planning announced Wednesday that 2,719 people lost their lives in traffic accidents across the country in 2024, representing a 10 percent decrease from the previous year.

The ministry clarified that the figures exclude the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region.

According to ministry spokesman Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi, a total of 11,763 traffic accidents were recorded in 2024 across all provinces outside Kurdistan, which also resulted in 11,896 injuries.

It noted that the total fatalities in 2024 witnessed a notable reduction from the 3,019 traffic accident victims reported in 2023.

Driver error was cited as the leading cause, accounting for 78 percent of the accidents.

It added that the ministry remains dedicated to enhancing traffic safety and reducing the number of accident victims through continuous efforts in traffic awareness campaigns, infrastructure improvements, and preventative measures.

xinhua