The Streets of the Kurdistan Region: Obstacles Preventing Traffic Safety Advancements and The Economic Implications of Road Accidents

Introduction

Road accidents are widely recognized as the primary cause of death, disability, and property damage around the world. This is particularly pronounced in low and middle-income countries where traffic accidents have become a significant contributor to human and economic losses in urban communities (Bhavan, 2019). With increasing rates of transportation and movement through various means such as cars, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, trains etc., the occurrence of accidents is facilitated leading to loss of life and additionally, economic consequences (Mohamed, 2015).  As road safety varies across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq the possibility of being seriously hurt or killed in a collision is substantially higher on highways and in certain regions in comparison to the other parts of Iraq. According to Leidman et al. (2016), the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) had the greatest number of casualties in Iraq when compared to the rest of the nation between the years 2010 and 2013. Erbil had the highest rate of road traffic related fatalities and severe injuries (Ibid). The rate of traffic-related deaths is significantly elevated when compared to that of other nations. To promote public safety on the road, police officers impose traffic penalties that discourage traffic law offenses and negligent driving behaviors. According to Shinar (2017), the implementation of enforcement as the final option to influence driver behavior indicates the importance of reasons other than safety and suggests that there could potentially be shortcomings in driver training, awareness, and licensing mechanisms. Estimating the economic implications of accidents is a challenging issue but crucial to investigate, therefore, this research attempts to examine the financial implications of road accidents in the KRI and the obstacles that hinder traffic safety advancement.

Literature Review

Economic Implications and Repercussions on Health

According to Hughes et al, (2015), road traffic accidents claim the lives of over 1.2 million individuals every year globally, while approximately 50 million sustain injuries. In the city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, traffic accidents rank as the second most common cause of mortality (Jrew et al., 2017). This underscores the critical importance of prioritizing road safety for sustainable societal development. As the analysis of the infrastructural aspect of road accidents continues to expand, there remains a dearth of published works discussing the financial implications on an economic system resulting from fatalities caused by these accidents. Research findings have revealed that road accidents impose a significant economic burden on nations, accounting for approximately 1-3% of their gross national product  (Kohale et al, 2014). Moreover, the financial consequences experienced by individual households because of these crashes include heightened reliance on borrowing and debt accumulation, which can subsequently lead to reduced expenditure on essential items such as food (Kohale et al, 2014). These incidents may occur due to the driver's insufficient discipline, excessive hesitation to adhere to traffic laws, or inadequate infrastructure, causing these accidents to end in severe injuries or even mortality (Ibid). 

The monetary effects of road-related injuries and collisions can be assessed by taking into consideration a broad range of elements, such as medical bills, expenses arising from legal, administrative, and law enforcement actions, damages to property along with car expenses for repair associated with repercussions of the accident, and potential revenue loss as a result of absence from work or disability/death. Beyond that, individuals who survive accidents tend to experience a worsening standard of living simply because of experiencing discomfort, pain, or long lasting effects caused by the accident (Kohale et al, 2014). There are different methods used to assess and tackle the economic consequences of road accidents, with a focus on quantifying the financial impacts and gauging how they affect a country's overall productivity. Indicators such as human capital losses or declines are often utilized as approximations for understanding the extent to which these accidents impede economic development. Additionally, costs associated with road accidents can be further broken down into direct and indirect expenses. The former refers to expenditures incurred by public health services, while the latter reflects a broader range of costs that negatively impact the national economy through various channels (Bhavan, 2019). The losses incurred by indirect costs lead to a decrease in national income as a result of decreased productivity and the reduced number of labor hours contributed by the human capital (Jagnoor et al., 2015).

Despite the numerous factors that contribute to road accidents, the absence of reliable traffic data poses challenges for professionals and researchers who seek to analyze these issues using scientific methods and make informed decisions based on statistical evidence. Even with the advancements in policies, guidelines, and highway designs, there continues to be difficulty in comprehending the pattern of accidents and driver actions for the purpose of preventing traffic crashes. The acquisition of a dependable database specifically dedicated to traffic accidents is essential in order to gain this understanding. The data gathered by traffic authorities is derived from written reports issued by officials immediately following an accident. These reports include information on the individuals that are involved: driver information, vehicle traits, and the specifics of the setting of the incident. Yet, like in other developing countries, the information incorporated in these police-generated crash reports tend to be limited in comparison to that obtainable in more advanced countries. This lack of complexity can be traced mostly to the crash report form's basic layout (Mohammed et al, 2019). The absence of a comprehensive healthcare system or effective coordination between victims and medical facilities to monitor their well-being has also contributed to the complexity of accurately documenting conditions relating to road accidents.

Discussion

Upon the establishment of the Iraqi state in 1921 under British oversight, a government body known as the General Directorate of Police was created by the Ministry of Interior. This organization was assigned various responsibilities including traffic management, formulation and enforcement of driver licensing regulations, vehicle registration processes, adherence to safety standards, implementation of speed limits, as well as issuance and enforcement of fines and penalties for those who violated regulations (Al-Tahafi, 2016). 

The first traffic regulations were put into effect in Iraq in 1932, as reported by the United Nations (2007). However, The code underwent multiple changes and was subsequently replaced in 1971. In 2004, following the ousting of Saddam Hussein's regime in March 2003, a new traffic code was enacted by the Iraqi Parliament under the Coalition Provisional Authority. This legislation replaced all previous traffic laws that were in place at that time (Mohammed et al, 2019). With the increase in motor vehicle traffic crashes as a major cause of death in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, legislators and law enforcement agencies have implemented different legal measures to combat this issue. These include imposing more severe penalties, heightened fines, and stricter legal sanctions. However, despite these efforts being undertaken with the intention of improving safety, they have not yielded promising results so far. Inadequately developed road infrastructure, an outdated vehicle fleet, unsuitable financial and logistical support for law enforcement agencies, an insufficient number of traffic enforcement cameras, and other innovative methods aimed at preventing such incidents comprise some of the key economic factors that contribute to the occurrence of road accidents.

The region currently experiences a dearth of standardized driver’s license programs that aid novice drivers in developing their driving abilities gradually, providing them with exposure to progressively challenging driving situations through phased approaches (Baker et al., 2006). The traffic agencies in Erbil and Duhok have implemented the driver’s license system utilized in South Korea, whereas Sulaymaniyah and Halabja have embraced the driver’s license system used in Denmark (Othman & Carroll, 2015). In particular, the practical training section of both systems is conducted away from actual traffic conditions, especially in Erbil and Duhok. Instead, it takes place within a controlled environment devoid of other vehicles. Moreover, despite significant investments in the reconstruction, expansion, and upkeep of the road infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq during the last ten years, many roads do not meet contemporary operational and safety standards. Inadequate safety measures thus result in poor road conditions (Mohammed et al, 2019). 

The majority of economists advocate incorporating an economic assessment of the impact on quality of life in the overall costs of road accidents. However, accurately estimating this cost is extremely challenging and comes with significant uncertainty. Despite this difficulty, there is general consensus that even approximate assessments of the costs associated with lost quality of life are preferable to completely ignoring this factor (Elvik, 2000).

Conclusion

During the past decade, there has been relative stability, economic growth, and an increase in population within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. However, it is important to acknowledge that like many rapidly developing countries worldwide, there have been some unintended negative outcomes because of this growth. Recognizing the diverse economic consequences of traffic related incidents emphasizes the need for thorough road safety measures to reduce the financial burden of traffic collisions. Investments in road precautions and crash avoidance projects is vital to minimizing the monetary consequences of traffic accidents. Infrastructure improvements, including well-kept roads along with effective traffic management techniques, contribute to decreasing fatalities. Awareness campaigns and traffic enforcement actions are also critical to establishing an ethic of responsible driving, which will ultimately reduce the number and the seriousness of collisions (World Health Organization, 2018). 

References

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