Expatriate dies in horrific West Eker car crash

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

An expatriate died today after the car he was driving rammed into an iron fence on Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Street in West Eker. 

According to sources, the 26-year-old was driving his car towards Sitra when he lost control and crashed into an iron fence. 

“The victim was seriously injured in the accident and he breathed his last.” 

The Civil Defence and Interior Ministry teams rushed to the accident site and took control of the situation. A probe has also been launched into the accident. 

The crash death comes after another accident in Seef on Friday in which a citizen bike rider was killed after being hit by a vehicle. The accident victim was only 20 years old.  

The Daily Tribune earlier reported that pedestrians are the most vulnerable when it comes to road accidents in the Kingdom. 

A report published by a division within the Ministry of Works has revealed that the maximum victims of road accidents in the past three years were pedestrians. 

According to the Road Safety Audit published by the Traffic Safety Group, 48 pedestrians were either injured or killed in accidents followed by drivers (38), passengers (29), motorcyclists (20) and cyclists (13).  

Forty-seven fatal accidents occurred in the year 2020. There were 48 fatal accidents in the year 2019 and 41 in 2018 respectively.

According to the General Directorate of Traffic, by implementing adequate measures the Kingdom has been able to reduce the number of fatal accidents by 50 per cent. 

“The accident rate is the lowest in the Gulf region and the Middle East. This is because of the increasing steps to monitor wrong traffic practices apart from boosting awareness activities.” 

A study conducted two years ago revealed that despite the increase in the number of vehicles by 36 per cent in the last five years, the accidents in general reduced by 21.55pc and the fatal accidents by 30pc, while the fatalities dropped by 38pc and injuries-related accidents among drivers by 41pc and passengers by 52pc.

The General Directorate has always been highlighting the important role of the community in reducing traffic accidents by their traffic awareness and culture.

He said that the department works within three main points; enhancing traffic safety through studies and reports, regulation of traffic on the roads and the enhancement of traffic services through e-facilities. 

The Director-General of Traffic, Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa, earlier revealed that traffic injuries and fatalities reduced by 60pc after the implementation of comprehensive traffic strategy.