DAMMAM – Despite a decline in the traffic accident indicator in the Eastern Province, the number of casualties still remains very high, according to official statistics. The average daily death toll as a result of accidents is put at 3.4. The Traffic Safety Committee in the Eastern Province reported that there was a decline in the number of serious accidents. An average of 11 serious accidents still take place in the region on a daily basis, it said. The total number of accidents during the last Hijri year (Oct.26, 2014 to Oct. 13, 2015) was 3,983, compared to 4,165 in 1435H, which represents a 4.4 percent drop. Sultan Al-Zahrani, secretary-general of the committee, explained in a presentation the efforts traffic police were putting in to govern the streets. He said 1,225 deaths and 5,686 severe injuries occurred due to accidents last year. He, however, pointed out that there was a 13 percent decline in the number of serious accidents within cities, resulting in 9.7 percent drop in mortality and 18 percent drop in severe injuries. In contrast, the region experienced a 6 percent increase in the number of serious accidents outside the cities last year, compared to the previous year. The number of deaths outside the cities registered an increase of 1.6 percent. As for fatalities due to accidents on highways supervised by road security, the region saw a decline on most of the roads. The Riyadh Highway and Abqaiq Road were exceptions. Al-Zahrani said the efforts made by the traffic police since the implementation of the new traffic strategy in the Eastern Province had greatly contributed to improving road safety in the region. He stressed the importance of collaboration among all sectors to reduce terrible accidents and save valuable lives and properties.
