HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – A deadly crash on the Deir ez-Zor-Damascus highway that killed dozens of people has renewed calls from drivers and transport companies for urgent repairs, wider roads and improved traffic safety measures across Syria’s intercity road network.
The collision between two passenger buses on the Deir ez-Zor-Damascus road on July 25, was one of the deadliest traffic accidents on the route in recent years.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior and the health directorates in Deir ez-Zor and Homs governorates said the crash killed 35 people and injured 30 others. Civil defense and ambulance teams transported the injured to nearby hospitals, while authorities opened an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Abdul Qader Fayyad, a taxi driver from Hasakah, told North Press that potholes are widespread on roads leading to long-distance destinations, particularly the Shaddadi road.
He called for separate carriageways for each direction, saying the current two-way road increases the risk of collisions.
Fayyad said heavy trucks frequently queue near the grain silos in the Sabah al-Khair area, while the narrow road makes driving more dangerous, especially for taxi drivers responsible for passengers’ safety.
He said the Deir ez-Zor crash has frightened many residents, with some now reluctant to travel. The highway, he added, has become widely known as the “road of death” because of the recurring accidents.
Fayyad called for potholes to be repaired, roads to be resurfaced, additional traffic signs to be installed and speed radars to be placed at regular intervals to improve safety.