Proceeding the 6th Civil Engineering Conference in Asia Region: Embracing the Future through
Sustainability
ISBN 978-602-8605-08-3
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
IN TRIPOLI - LIBYA
1
2
Amiruddin Ismail and Hussin A.M Yahia
Sustainable Urban Transport Research Center (SUTRA)/ Department of Civil and Structural Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi,
Selangor D.E. Malaysia, E-mail: [email protected]
2
Sustainable Urban Transport Research Center (SUTRA)/ Department of Civil and Structural Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi,
Selangor D.E. Malaysia, E-mail: [email protected]
1
ABSTRACT
The increase in per capita income and low-priced in gasoline have resulted in vehicles easily acquired by
individuals in Tripoli, Libya. The increases in vehicles ownership and traffic congestion have caused traffic
accidents, fatalities and injuries at alarming rate. Traffic accidents have contributed severe social and
economic problem costing the country dearly and lead to the death of 6.5 people per day according to
statistics 2010. In Libya having population not exceeding 6 million people, the number of deaths is considered
too large. Efforts should be intensify the awareness among drivers and specifically youths because youths are
the most vulnerable group and are more prone to accidents due to their well-known inclination and especially
in the age group of 25 to 35 Accident involvement rate for male was 49%, but for female 38%. In the coming
years if government could not take serious measures to reduce of traffic accidents it may increase to 25 deaths
daily.
INTRODUCTION
Road traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the developing country and especially in Libya
(Hussin A.M. Yahia & Amiruddin Ismail 2011). According to WHO 2010, the following key facts were
derived.
 Each year around 1.3 million people died as a result of traffic accidents
 Road traffic injuries the leading cause of death for the age group 15 - 29 years
 Low and middle -income countries, even though have the lowest rate of vehicles in worlds, but 90% of the
victims of traffic accidents occur in these countries
 46% of vulnerable road users: cyclists, pedestrians and motorcycle, are dying on the roads in the world
 Traffic accidents are predicted lead to the deaths of 10 million people annually by 2020 and only 15% of
the world's countries have strict and comprehensive laws relating key risk factors for traffic accidents:
driving, speeding and, seat-belts, use of motorcycle helmets
An estimated 2375 people died and 14025 were injured in road traffic accidents (RTA) in Libya in 2010.
The numbers of deaths from road traffic injuries (RTI) every day in the increase and It's highest in Arab
country compared to the number of residents not to exceed 6.5 million (GAIS 2011). The analysis and
recording of RTA's throughout the Libya in general and in the most crowded cities in particular in Tripoli city
has not received enough attention from the concerned authorities until only the last few years. The Traffic
Statistics at the Ministry of Public Safety, and Traffic Management as show (Figure 1) showed an increase in
the number of deaths, especially in recent years.
A. Ismail, H.A.M.Yahia
Fig. 1: Deaths of road traffic accidents (1995-2010)
ROAD NETWORK IN LIBYA
In Libya, major roads have improved in terms of length, quality and linking between cities. The road network
has expanded during the period of 1970 to 2013 of 5000Km to 15,200 Km of main paved roads as shown in
(Fig. 2) and number of vehicles in increase every year too.
Fig. 2: Evolution of the lengths of roads of 1970 to 2013
MAJOR CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
In developing countries and especially Arab countries without exception, the problem of traffic accidents is
very serious and it's become more difficult to control. It has become one of the most important that damage or
destroy material resources such as vehicle, lamp, post, adjacent building, bridges, and human life.
The important elements in traffic accidents as shown (Figure 2) is driver (the human element) and the road
and the vehicle so knowledge of driver behavior, attention to the road and the vehicle is important in the
reduction of traffic accidents in developing countries.
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A. Ismail, H.A.M.Yahia
Causes of traffic accidents
Roadway and Environment
factors
Human factors
Road condition
Pedestrians
Unfavorable weather
Vehicular factors
Drivers
Fig. 2: Causes of traffic accidents in Libya
The traffic department records in Tripoli many different causes for traffic accidents inside the city (Table 2)
as high speed (speeding), lack of attention, improper stopping, driving under the influence of drugs, improper
turning, violation of traffic laws, ignoring priority of way, using mobile phones during driving and other
reasons for example and especially the city of Tripoli, It's suffer from the increase in the number of vehicles
and population and limited area if compared to some of the major cities in Libya shown in (Figure 3).
Fig. 3: The relationship between of % of area and % of population 2010
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A. Ismail, H.A.M.Yahia
Tab 2: The main reasons for traffic accidents (2007 - 2010)
Cause
Carelessness
Close following or tailgating
Excessive speed
Disregarding traffic priority
Using incorrect lane
Bad turn
Incorrect reversing
Disallowing pedestrian priority
Wrong overtaking
Wrong turn
%
22.5
17.0
15.0
14.6
12.4
10.5
5.3
1.2
0.8
0.7
Source: GPCGS 2011
HUMAN FACTORS
Human factors are the main cause of violation and increasing daily danger for road user (drivers, passengers
and pedestrians) safer cars and roadways can be produced through design, but making drivers safer is much
more difficult. Driver error can include a number of topics including misinterpretation of traffic control
devices, road rage, driver expectancy, driver age, driver gender and mental workloads (Daniel J. Smith
2002).The behaviors of drivers and especially young people have a major role in many accidents and
knowledge of their characteristics is important in the analysis of traffic accidents. In statistics 2011 showed.
Age group of drivers who were involved in accidents compared with the percentage of the city population in
each age group. In age group 25-35 Accident involvement rate for male was 49%, but for female 38%.
Age Range for Male
Age Range for Female
Fig. 4: Accident data to gender 2011
Source: General Authority for Information, statistics 2011
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A. Ismail, H.A.M.Yahia
ROAD ACCIDENTS INJURIES
Traffic accidents and injuries have a negative impact on communities (Jacobs, 2000). Every day nearly 3,500
people die on the world's roads. Millions of people are disabled or injured every year. Pedestrians, children,
the elderly and cyclists are among the most vulnerable of road users (WHO, 2010). Road traffic accidents are
the most frequent causes of injury-related deaths world wide (Astrom, et al. 2006). According to WHO 2011
about road accidents in world, traffic accidents classified as the 10th leading cause of death globally in 2008,
but in Middle- income countries have been know as the 7th leading cause of death shown in (Table 3). In
Libya, road traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death, a review of traffic accidents and their
resulting casualties in Libya and review of police records, we find that traffic accidents have increased
dramatically, as show (Figure 5, 6).
Fig. 5: Road accidents deaths in Libya
Figure 1.6: Road accidents injuries in Libya.
Fig. 6: Road accidents injuries in Libya
The World Health Organization warned of the high proportion for traffic accidents in developing countries if
not taken the necessary measures to reduce it. Injuries will increase and in 2020 projected to be the third most
important contributor to the global burden of disease in world (Table 3) showed causes of death in middleincome countries in 2008.
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A. Ismail, H.A.M.Yahia
Tab. 3: The main causes of death in developing countries
Rank
Causes of death
1
Ischemic heart disease
2
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease
3
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
4
Lower respiratory infections
5
Diarrhoeal diseases
6
HIV/AIDS
7
Road traffic accidents
8
Tuberculosis
9
Diabetes mellitus
10
Hypertensive heart disease
Source: World Bank 2009
%
5.27
4.91
2.97
2.07
1.68
1.03
0.94
0.93
0.87
0.80
In Libya, according to the General Department of Traffic there has been a rise in the number of deaths on the
roads. The beginning of January and the end of November year 2010 was there 2375 people were killed in
traffic accidents. It would give the country an annual road traffic fatality rate of 40.8 deaths per 100,000
population - still horrific as the third most dangerous place for driving after Eritrea (48.4) and Egypt (42.0).In
comparison, the figure for the US is 12.3, Italy 8.7, France 6.9, Japan 3.9 and the UK 3.6 - the economic
consequences of road crashes in the world are estimated to be 1 % to 2% from the total national income
(Libyan Human Development Report, 2010).
CONCLUSION
The increasing numbers of vehicles is significantly affecting the rising road traffic deaths in Libya. According
to global status report on road safety 2009, Libya has rate the highest in the victims of the road 40.8 per
100.000 as show (Table 5). Reviewing statistics of traffic accidents in Libya we find accidents has doubled at
the end 2010 to 15655 accidents while 1995 recorded 8419 accident, as well as the injuries rose to 14025
injuries, the damaged cars 22720 cars in 2010 and the cost of losses and damages recorded 34273671 Libyan
Dinar (L.D) (1.0 U.S. dollar is equivalent to 1.25 of L.D) (General Authority for Information, Statistics 2011).
Tab. 4: Higher mortality rate for road accidents
Country
Eritrea
Egypt
Libya
Afghanistan
Iraq
Angola
Ethiopia
Reported number of traffic deaths
81
19983
2138
1179
1932
2358
2441
Estimated traffic death rate per 100,000
48.4
42.0
40.8
39.0
38.1
37.7
35.0
Source: Global Status Report on Road Safety 2010
Road traffic accidents, besides being a major health hazard leading to high rates of fatality and disability and
have a great socio-economic impact on the victims, their families and loved ones and the nation as a whole.
The problem is not intractable and the toll could be greatly reduced if appropriate measures have been taken.
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A. Ismail, H.A.M.Yahia
REFERENCES
Ali, A.A. (2007). Road Traffic Accidents: The Number One Killer in Libya. Libyan JMed: 2 (2); AOP:
070327
Administration of Traffic and Authorizations, Tripoli, Libya (2009).
Astrom, J.S., Kert, M.P. & Jovin, R.D. (2006). Signatures of Four Generations of Road Safety Planning in
Nairobi City, Kenya, Journal of Eastern African Research and Development 120:186-201.
Smith, D.J. (2005). Center for Transportation Research and Education Iowa State University.
Finally Recommendations from the International Symposium for the Prevention of Traffic Accidents in Tripoli
(6-8) in October (2009).
General Authority for Information Statistics (2009).
General Authority for Information Statistics (2011).
General People's Committee of General Security (2010 ).
Global Status Report on Road Safety: time for Action World Health Organization, Geneva. Available (2010)
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_traffic/en/
Hussin A.M. Yahia and Ismail, A. (2011). Traffic Accidents Analaysia in Libya. International Building &
Infrastructure Technology Conference ,Vistana Hotel, Penang, Malaysia.
Jacobs, G.A., Thomas, A. and Astrop, A. (2000). Estimating Global Road Fatalities, Transportation.
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Khorasani-Zavareh D, Mohammadi, R, Khankeh, H.R, Laflamme, L, Bikmoradi, A. (2009).
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