Seventy-two people died in road accidents during the first 11 months of the year, an increase of two compared to the same period in 2024. The accidents resulted in 32 fatalities from collisions, 25 from run-offs, and 15 from pedestrian strikes, as reported by the PSP.
The preliminary accident data from the Public Security Police (PSP), covering their jurisdiction, indicates an increase in road accidents, fatalities, and injuries this year.
From January 1 to November 30, the PSP recorded 52,370 accidents, 41 more than the previous period, leading to 72 deaths, two more than before, 713 serious injuries, an increase of 69, and 16,436 minor injuries, 400 more compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
Among the road accident fatalities, young people aged 18 to 30 were the most affected, representing 28%, followed by adults aged 51 to 65 (21%) and those aged 41 to 50 (19%).
The age group of 31-40 accounted for 17% of the fatalities, while those aged 66-80 comprised 7%, and individuals over 81 years old made up 8%.
Regarding traffic enforcement, the PSP noted that 657,757 drivers (+19,960) were inspected nationwide, and 2,149,675 vehicles (+117,857) were monitored by radar.
A total of 217,483 infractions were registered (+30,093 compared to the 2024 period), averaging over 19,000 violations per month.
Among the infractions, the PSP highlighted 38,209 for speeding, which constituted 18% of the total recorded violations.
The PSP conducted 186,509 alcohol tests, resulting in 3,930 reports for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Of these alcohol-related infractions, 851 involved drivers subject to a reduced alcohol limit (drivers with less than three years of holding a license or professional drivers), accounting for 22% of the alcohol-related cases.
The PSP also emphasized 22,616 infractions for failing the mandatory periodic inspection, 8,196 for lacking civil liability insurance, 5,761 for using a mobile phone while driving, 2,671 for not wearing a seatbelt, and 1,125 for failing to use restraint systems.
During the same period, 8,508 arrests were made for road-related crimes, including 4,861 for driving while intoxicated and 3,647 for driving without a legal license.
“Currently, human behavior is recognized as the most significant factor in most road accidents, whether due to violations and/or disregard for traffic rules and signals or when faced with unexpected situations,” the security force warns.
It further notes, “As urban scenarios are highly dynamic, with multiple road users in constant motion, driver behavior is crucial to continuing this trend of reducing road accidents.”
The PSP urges all drivers to drive safely, adapting their driving to weather conditions and road states.
“We warn against behaviors that might impair driving abilities, such as speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol and/or psychotropic substances, or distractions like using a mobile phone while driving,” the statement reads.
It reminds drivers not to speed, especially when approaching crosswalks or areas with high pedestrian traffic, a factor that can impede “safe vehicle stopping, potentially causing collisions.”
It also calls for using seat belts, restraint systems, and helmets, which, “although they do not prevent accidents, reduce the impact and risk of injuries and/or sequelae in a collision.”
