Manama: Kuwaiti police have urged motorists to be more cautious on the roads after 12 people were killed in accidents in the first week of September.
According to weekly figures issued on accidents, seven were foreigners, four were Kuwaitis and one whose nationality was not known, Al Aan news portal reported.
"We urge drivers to exercise the highest levels of care and caution and to comply with the rules and regulations, especially those related to speed and red lights, to ensure the safety of road users," the interior ministry media department said.
According to Kuwait's Traffic National Strategy, around 200 Kuwaitis are killed and 6,000 are injured in traffic accidents annually while traffic congestions and accidents will cost Kuwait KD 27.430 billion ($95 billion) in the next ten years as the country tries to shrug off a terrible world record.
More than 25,000 Kuwaitis, mostly relatives of those involved in accidents, are affected every year, the strategy, prepared by an international expert, said.
The money to be spent by Kuwait to deal with accidents will represent around six per cent of its annual GDP.
Despite its small total population of around three million people, Kuwait has witnessed an increasing rate of accidents and injuries.
The traffic strategy was launched by the interior ministry in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and Supreme Council for Planning and Development to create and effective transport system by reducing traffic congestion and the economic and environmental problems arising from it;
The strategy also aims to ensure safer roads by reducing road accidents and the subsequent social and economic costs shouldered on the government and people.
