Traffic Accidents killed 758 people since the beginning of 2011

Algiers- A total of 758 people perished and 8412 others injured in 4906 traffic accidents nationwide during the first quarter of 2011, statement of the National Gendarmerie said here on Monday.

 Compared to the first quarter of 2010, the number of traffic accident victims increased with 143 (+23.25%), while the number of injured increased with 2138 (+34.08%) and accidents with 1248 (+34.12%).

 The increase in the number of traffic accidents is due to the lack of compliance with traffic laws and dangerous driving, mainly among youth,” the source said, adding that human element tops the causes of these accidents in 2011 with a rate of 98.96% (80.62% for drivers and pedestrians with 09.07%) followed by the vehicle state (05, 54%) and roads (04.77%).

Previously, Transport Minister Amar Tou said that Nine Algerians die every day in traffic accidents, adding that, 3541 were perished in 2010 and 4607 in 2009.

“There is a decline in the number of victims (from 13 deaths in 2009 to 9 in 2010). The new traffic code is the real cause behind the drop of injuries to 51002 in 2010. In 2009 there were 64148 injuries. There is also a drop in the number of injuries per day from 176 in 2009 to 37 in 2010 and in the number of accidents from 40814 in 2009 to 31740 in 2010”, Transport Minister asserted”, he added.

 National Gendarmerie reported that over 350 people die in traffic accidents in two months and the heaviest death toll took place at the national road n°5.   

 The main roads where the greatest number of road accidents occurred are the trunk roads N°08, 32, 100, 05, 12 and 04, according to the National Gendarmerie’s report.

  Official reports claim that accidents are often caused by ageing buses and unskilled drivers. 

 Now authorities are looking to impose stricter tests on those seeking a bus driver’s license. They are also mulling replacing older buses with newer models and reorganizing the entire transport sector.