In 2023, a total of 105,065 reports were filed regarding traffic accidents across Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh accounting for the largest number of incidents, according to a local media report.
Riyadh Leads in Traffic Accident Reports
The Saudi Red Crescent reported that 30,719 traffic accident cases were registered in Riyadh, making up 29% of the overall tally. This was the highest number of reports among the kingdom's regions, surpassing nine other areas.
Following Riyadh, Mecca had the second-highest number of reports with 28,687, followed by the Eastern Province with 12,933, Asir with 7,792, and Medina with 6,250.
Lowest Reports in Northern Borders
The Northern Borders region reported the lowest number of traffic accident cases with just 867, accounting for a mere 1% of the overall incidents.
Efforts to Reduce Traffic Fatalities
In recent years, Saudi authorities have tightened road safety measures and imposed stricter penalties for traffic violations in an effort to reduce road crashes. According to an official report from the Ministry of Health, fatalities from traffic accidents have decreased by more than 40% over the past decade.
Decline in Fatalities and Injuries
In 2023, there were 4,423 fatalities due to road accidents, a significant decrease from the 7,486 fatalities reported in 2014. Injuries caused by traffic accidents also saw a 33% drop, with 24,002 injured in 2023 compared to 35,843 in 2014.
Improvement in Fatality and Injury Rates
The report revealed a reduction in the fatality rate per 100,000 people, from 2,644 in 2014 to 1,306 in 2023. The number of injured people also fell from 12,661 in 2014 to 7,087 last year.
WHO Recognition
In May 2023, Saudi Minister of Health Fahd Al Jalajel cited a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighting that fatalities from traffic accidents in the kingdom had decreased by 50% and injuries by 35%.
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