Baghdad traffic directorate warns drivers as temperatures near 50°C

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Baghdad's General Traffic Directorate issued summer safety guidance for drivers on Saturday as temperatures across Iraq approach 50°C. The directorate said vehicles should be checked for mechanical readiness before any trip. Director General Adil Samir al-Hasani urged motorists to inspect the condition and durability of their vehicles, particularly tires, cooling fluids and engine oil. The advisory was prepared under the supervision of Hussein al-Awadi, senior undersecretary at the Interior Ministry. Drivers were also told not to leave flammable materials such as perfume, gas canisters, lighters and batteries inside vehicles. The directorate recommended keeping fire extinguishers in working order and within easy reach, and buying fuel only from licensed stations. The warning comes amid an intense heat wave affecting much of the country, with meteorological authorities reporting daytime highs nearing 50°C in several regions.