The Syrian government has launched a new safety campaign in response to the recent rise in traffic accidents. The Ministry of Transport announced the 'Let's Protect Our Children on the Road' campaign concurrently with the opening of the 14th International Motor Show 2026 in the capital Damascus.
The event saw participation from 46 local and international companies, while Transport Minister Yarub Badr and other officials signed an agreement with the same name as part of the campaign. In a statement to the state news agency SANA, Minister Badr said the campaign aims to spread a culture of traffic safety and introduce methods for accident prevention.
Badr stressed that reducing accidents requires cooperation between public institutions, the private sector, and civil society, as well as improving roads, enhancing vehicle safety, and raising driver awareness. The minister also announced that a draft amendment to the traffic law, prepared jointly with the Ministries of Interior, Justice, and Finance, has reached its final stage.
Accident figures raise alarm
Data from the Syrian Civil Defence reveal the severity of the situation. From the beginning of 2025 to July 20, 1,412 traffic accidents occurred across the country, resulting in 81 deaths and 1,299 injuries.
The number of accidents rose further in 2026. In June, 540 accidents resulted in 25 deaths and 537 injuries, while in July, 64 people were killed and 604 injured in 516 accidents. On July 25, two buses collided on the Deir ez-Zor-Damascus highway, killing 35 people — one of the deadliest accidents in recent times.
Infrastructure and inspections ramped up for road safety
In June, the Ministry of Transport launched a plan to renovate main highways according to technical standards. As part of the plan, priority is being given to the rehabilitation of the international M45 highway, which runs from the Nasib border crossing to Bab al-Hawa border crossing, passing through Damascus, Homs, Hama, Saraqib and Aleppo, as well as the Damascus-Deir ez-Zor road.
The Ministry of Interior has also stepped up patrols along the Damascus-Deir ez-Zor route. Syria's Internal Security Forces announced that they have intensified inspections on the Deir ez-Zor-Tadmur road. The statement said the patrols are operating to prevent speeding and dangerous traffic violations, ensure general security, and protect citizens' safety.
