Former member of the Parliamentary Services Committee, Baqir Al-Saadi, identified on Sunday three main factors behind the alarming rise in traffic accidents in Iraq, which continue to record terrifying numbers of casualties and material losses every year. In a media statement, Al-Saadi explained that the highways connecting the provinces alone account for about 45% of all fatal accidents. He attributed the causes primarily to reckless driving and excessive speed, followed by the deteriorating road infrastructure and lack of regular maintenance, as well as the massive traffic congestion that exceeds the roads' capacity. For his part, a former traffic officer supported this view, noting that the "human factor" remains the primary culprit in this tragedy, especially with some drivers operating vehicles for long hours under severe fatigue. He called for the activation of strict legal deterrents and the intensification of awareness campaigns to stop the ongoing bloodshed on the roads.