Author(s)

H. M. N. Al-Madani

Abstract

Traffic safety data for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, UAE and Bahrain, are analysed here and compared with EU countries. The comparison is based on data gathered for over three decades considering death frequencies and rates. The predicted values for the coming decade, based on best regression fits, are also analysed. The gathered data for the various GCC countries are probably presented for the first time in the literature. While the traffic fatalities in the GCC countries increased from 3,531 during 1980 to 9,685 deaths during 2011; those in 15 EU countries dropped from 59,879 deaths to 20,764. It is expected that roadway deaths in both will reach 10,700 by the year 2021. The fatality rates per population for the GCC countries as a whole were shown to be substantially higher than those in EU countries. While the rates for EU countries were shown to be around 13.5 deaths per 100,000 population during the 80s; those in the GCC countries were in the range of 22 to 27. The current rates for the EU countries are around 5.5. Those in the GCC countries are around 23 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. As per regressed models; EU fatality rates will continue dropping towards zero in about 10 years’ time; those for GCC countries will stay in the range of 20 deaths per 100,000 population. There are many contributory factors leading to such high rates of traffic deaths in GCC countries. These include lack of measurable long term safety plans, inconsistent handling of traffic safety strategies, poor involvement of NGOs, poor coordination between various stakeholders, poor research involvement in the traffic safety crises and limited post accident rehabilitation centres. Keywords: traffic safety, roadway deaths, fatality rates, GCC, EU.

Keywords

traffic safety, roadway deaths, fatality rates, GCC, EU