Over 2007, traffic accidents claimed the lives of 340 citizens and injured 4278 others, of those 1981 critically, according to a report issued recently by the General Traffic Administration.

The report also mentioned that traffic accidents in the capital Sana'a rose by 10 percent over the years 2006 and 2007 and estimated 2007 material losses reaches $6.5 million.

Vehicle crashes came in first place with 2501 accidents and followed by run-over accidents mounting to 2294. Other accidents included rollovers and losing car control in highways and mountainous roads.

Over the same year, the General Traffic Administration recorded about 363,000 traffic violations and it withheld over 123,000 vehicles for breaching the traffic rules.

Most observers describe traffic accidents as the 'silent war' as thousands of Yemenis get killed or injured. Hundreds sustain untreated injuries or become permanently impaired and thus depriving the national economy from their contribution.

According to the official statistics, the fatalities of traffic accidents surpasses by far the victims of wars and armed clashes fought in different areas worldwide.

About 12,000 citizens have been killed, while 86,000 have been injured over the last five years. Similarly, 59,000 accidents have been recorded over the same period and their material losses are estimated at YR 11 billion.

Moreover, 33,000 have been critically injured by these accidents while 41,000 have sustained light and moderate injuries. The number of impaired people has been on rise as well, according to the same report.

With 10,532 accidents in 2002, the number of traffic accidents rose to 13,000 in 2006 and the same applies to the number of death cases resulting from these accidents as they increased to 2711 in 2006 against 2101 recorded in 2002. The number of critical injuries rose to 7969 cases against 5609 registered in 2002.

According to the report, accidents in the capital Sana'a reached 5000 and left behind 3855 casualties, of which 377 were killed, mostly women. Only 61 women were killed and 600 others were injured in the accidents.

Over the years 1995-2005, there have been over 135,000 traffic accidents and these incidents claimed the lives of 36,000 citizens and injured 125,000 others, ranging from critical, moderate to light injuries.

Most of these accidents take place during the occasions and public holidays including Eids and other religious festivals and traffic authority attribute these accidents to reckless driving, lack of regular maintenance of vehicles especially those meant for passengers, lack of light signs and ill-designed roads.

Traffic experts also stress that Yemeni roads lack in the required safety measures. The cars used on the highways are not regularly checked or maintained prompting some to call Peugeot cars as 'death cars' because more accident are caused or involve them.

Meanwhile, traffic awareness does not come to the level, and there no regulating traffic laws. Traffic police are not paid well and this forces them to resort to other means for securing livelihood. They may also cancel violations against receiving small amount of money in bribe.