The Reality of Traffic Density on the Main Road (Basra – Umm Qasr) in 2025

Abstract

This study analyzes the traffic density on the main Basra–Umm Qasr road in the year 2025, recognizing it as a critical and appropriate indicator for monitoring and understanding traffic volume, variations in flow intensity, and the road’s capacity to meet the diverse needs of its users—whether service-related, social, or economic. Traffic density, therefore, serves as a key metric that reflects both the level of vehicular activity and the overall efficiency of the road infrastructure.

The research adopted the manual traffic count method to determine the volume of vehicles traveling along the Basra–Umm Qasr corridor, recording traffic in both directions (inbound and outbound). A strategically visible observation point was selected, and data collection was conducted over two distinct days: a weekday (working day) and a weekend (Friday) to capture variation in flow patterns.

The findings indicate that the primary driver of vehicular movement on this road in 2025 is commuting for work, followed by shopping and recreational trips, and then travel for health and social purposes. Additionally, there was a notable disparity in traffic density, not only in the number and types of vehicles but also in patterns observed between the working day and the weekend—variations attributed to the diversity and nature of travel purposes.