Iran experienced a devastating rise in road accidents during the past week, with 314 fatalities and thousands more injured, according to Teymour Hosseini, head of the regime’s traffic police. The alarming death toll comes from 264 fatal crashes recorded between August 31 and 7, coinciding with a nationwide increase in travel due to public holidays.
Hosseini highlighted the main causes of these accidents, citing “speeding, driver inattention, and loss of vehicle control” as the primary reasons behind the deadly incidents. In addition to fatal crashes, the week saw over 8,000 injury-related accidents, further underscoring the severity of the situation.
Although this year’s death toll represents a 38% decrease compared to the same period last year, when 511 people died, the numbers remain concerning. Hosseini added that the total number of deaths is still a reminder of the continued risk on Iran’s dangerous roads.
#Iran News:
Official Cites Poor Vehicle Quality and Infrastructure for 45-50 Daily Road Deaths in Iranhttps://t.co/FraqGjJQ7o— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 3, 2024
The country has long struggled with poor road safety, with official reports indicating that over 20,000 people die in traffic accidents annually. Iran’s dangerous roads, substandard vehicles, and lack of enforcement contribute significantly to the grim statistics.
MP Mohsen Pirhadi has also publicly condemned the quality of vehicles on Iranian roads, citing that over “90% of vehicle parts fail to meet standard regulations.” He pointed to insufficient oversight over vehicle production as a significant factor leading to fatal accidents. “There are no regulatory instructions for producing many of these parts,” Pirhadi noted in a recent statement, adding that the lack of inspection has led to the widespread use of low-quality materials in Iran’s car industry.
