Türkiye recorded a staggering 313,868 traffic accidents in the first half of 2025, claiming 1,125 lives and injuring 184,831 people, according to the latest Traffic Statistics Bulletin from the General Directorate of Security.

The report details a grim landscape of road safety, with 130,320 accidents resulting in fatalities or injuries, including 958 fatal crashes and 129,362 injury-related incidents. The remaining 183,548 accidents caused only material damage.

Side collisions topped the list with 44,947 incidents, followed by 18,987 pedestrian crashes, 18,086 rollovers, 14,507 rear-end collisions, and 12,324 cases of vehicles leaving the road. Driver error was the leading cause, responsible for 90.28% of fatal-injury accidents, with speeding (52,300 cases), right-of-way violations (23,259), and lane violations (11,382) among the top infractions. Pedestrian errors (8.10%), vehicle malfunctions (0.73%), and road conditions (0.29%) also contributed.

Two-vehicle accidents accounted for 53.44% of cases, while 40.43% involved a single vehicle. Cars (100,437) and motorcycles (48,618) were the most frequently involved vehicles. Istanbul led with 51,219 accidents, followed by Ankara (45,201) and Izmir (19,786), together representing 37% of the national total.

Authorities issued 152,214 fines, with 79.86% (121,599) for drunk driving, 5.47% for exceeding penalty points, and 0.25% for repeated speeding. Call for Action

The alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures. Experts and officials are calling for stricter traffic law enforcement, improved driver education, and infrastructure upgrades to curb the rising tide of accidents and fatalities. (ILKHA)