Sistan & Balouchetsn Province sees spike in deadly crashes during Nowruz 2021, data shows
The Chancellor of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences stated that during the Nowruz 2021 holidays from March 15, 2021 to April 4, 2021, unfortunately, 44 people lost their lives due to road traffic accidents in the province. During the same period a total of 23 people have died of coronavirus disease in the provinces hospitals.
Report from: ZAUMS Public Relations & International Affairs Office
Published on: 06 April 2021
Approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. More than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. 93% of the world"s fatalities on the roads occur in low- and middle-income countries, even though these countries have approximately 60% of the world"s vehicles. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.
COVID-19 pandemic effects on road safety are currently unknown. However, preliminary information on factors such as the increased stress and anxiety brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, greater opportunities for speeding and stunt driving, might well have the opposite effect on road safety.
The government of Islamic Republic of Iran imposed nationwide restrictions on travel in early April, helping curb a potential spike in number of road trips that could intensify the spread of the disease in the country. Although many Iranians chose to stay at home during holidays of Nowruz 2021, but it still was a busy travel season in late March which marks the New Year in Iran.
The Chancellor of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences stated that during the Nowruz 2021 holidays from March 15, 2021 to April 4, 2021, unfortunately, 44 people lost their lives due to road traffic accidents in the province. During the same period a total of 23 people have died of coronavirus disease in the province"s hospitals.
He added: "As compared with Nowruz 2020, the number of road traffic accidents reported across Sistan and Balouchestan Province during Nowruz 2021 has increased by 50% and the number of people injured in traffic accidents in 2021 shows an increase of 53%."
Dr. Seyed Mohammad Hashemi continued: "During Nowruz, more than 2,498 urban and road traffic accident missions have been carried out by the Medical Emergency Department of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. The total number of accidents reported inside cities, increased from 250 to 465, the figure showed a 86% increase, as compared with the same period during Nowruz 2020, a total of 5 people had lost their lives in car crashes inside cities during the same period."
According to Dr. Hashemi, 1,409 people injured in car crashes have been transferred to medical centers by the Medical Emergency Department of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, and during this period, a total of 1,016 people involved in road traffic accidents have been treated on an outpatient basis.
He enumerated the number of emergency helicopter missions of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in Nowruz 1400 only 8 missions and said: in this regard, 20 accidental casualties have been transferred by the university air rescue helicopter.
Although coronavirus lockdowns has led to huge reductions in traffic and fewer car crashes across the world, but as drivers sped up on quieter roads, the collisions became deadlier in Sistan Balouchetsan Province.
Copyright © 2021 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 06/04/2021
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