GCC countries recorded 945,400 road accidents in 2012, up from 853,700 in the previous year, marking an increase of 11 per cent, a report said.

Saudi Arabia topped the list with 589,258 accidents, followed by Qatar (252,614), Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Bahrain, added the report in Arab News.

The annual value of economic damage caused by accidents was put at SR87.18 billion ($23.4 billion) by an expert.

Saudi Arabia logged 23 deaths per 100,000 people, with daily average of 19.1 road fatalities, the report quoted statistics from the General Directorate of Traffic.