TEHRAN— The number of traffic-related deaths occurred in the country in the first 8 months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018) amounted to 12,261, a 0.9 percent rise year on year. 

According to Iran’s forensics organization, of the total number 9,587 were men and the rest were women, IRNA news agency reported on Saturday. 

Intercity roads set the record high for the highest number of deaths reported in the same period, the report added. 

Provinces of Fars, Tehran and Isfahan with 992, 916 and 848 deaths respectively are the regions with the highest number of deaths recorded while provinces of Ilam, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad and Ardebil with 110, 141, and 161 deaths reported the lowest number of deaths respectively. 

The number of individuals who sustained injuries in traffic-related accidents over the 8-month period was 259,988 of which 185,874 were men. 

According to World Health Organization there were 1.25 million road traffic deaths globally in 2013 and low- and middle-income countries had higher road traffic fatality rates per 100,000 population. Almost half of all deaths on the world’s roads are among those with the least protection – motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

MQ/MG