TÜİK shares the grim picture: 2023 accident statistics released

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has announced the road traffic accident statistics for 2023.

According to the data, the number of traffic accidents that occurred last year increased by 6.6 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 1 million 314 thousand 136. Of this total, 1 million 79 thousand 62 were accidents involving property damage, while 235 thousand 71 were accidents resulting in death or injury. 83.1 percent of the fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents occurred within residential areas, while 16.9 percent occurred outside residential areas.

In these traffic accidents, 6 thousand 548 people lost their lives, and 350 thousand 855 people were injured.

In 2023, while the number of motor vehicles in traffic increased by 8.5 percent compared to the previous year, there was a 6.6 percent increase in the total number of accidents, a 19.2 percent increase in the number of fatal and injury-causing accidents, a 4.2 percent increase in property-damage accidents, a 25.2 percent increase in the total number of deaths, and a 21.5 percent increase in the number of injured.

In Turkey, there were 8.2 fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents per 1,000 vehicles. By province, the highest number of deaths and injuries was recorded in Istanbul with 347 deaths and 32 thousand 452 injuries, while the lowest number of deaths was in Tunceli with 5, and the lowest number of injuries was in Ardahan with 304.

HALF OF THE DECEASED ARE DRIVERS

Of the people who died in traffic accidents on the road network last year, 45.5 percent were drivers, 32.3 percent were passengers, and 22.2 percent were pedestrians. When the deceased and injured in traffic accidents were examined by gender, it was observed that 75.1 percent of the deceased were male and 24.9 percent were female, while 68.7 percent of the injured were male and 31.3 percent were female.

Looking at the total of 317 thousand 510 faults that caused fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents, it was determined that 89 percent of the faults were driver-related, 8.3 percent were pedestrian-related, 1.5 percent were vehicle-related, 0.7 percent were passenger-related, and 0.4 percent were road-related.

Of the 235 thousand 71 fatal and injury-causing accidents that occurred on the road network, 65.9 percent took place during the day, 31.8 percent at night, and 2.3 percent during twilight.

When accidents and their outcomes were evaluated based on the number of vehicles, 51.8 percent of fatal and injury-causing accidents involved two vehicles, 42.2 percent involved a single vehicle, and 6 percent involved multiple vehicles. Of the total deaths resulting from accidents, 52.4 percent occurred in single-vehicle accidents, 40.4 percent in two-vehicle accidents, and 7.2 percent in multi-vehicle accidents. As for injuries, 53.3 percent occurred in two-vehicle accidents, 39.2 percent in single-vehicle accidents, and 7.5 percent in multi-vehicle accidents.

TOTAL DEATH RATE OF PEDESTRIANS IN ACCIDENTS WAS 39.9 PERCENT

For pedestrians, motorcycle riders, cyclists, and electric scooter riders, who are classified as "vulnerable road users," the number of deaths in 2023 was 2 thousand 610, and the number of injured was 130 thousand 909. Thus, it was observed that these road users accounted for 39.9 percent of the total 6 thousand 548 deaths and 37.3 percent of the total 350 thousand 855 injuries in traffic accidents in 2023.

Pedestrians, with 1,453 deaths, accounted for 22.2 percent of total deaths in accidents and 55.7 percent of total deaths among vulnerable road users. It was calculated that pedestrians, with 40 thousand 774 injuries, accounted for 11.6 percent of total injuries and 31.1 percent of total injuries among vulnerable road users.

Motorcycle riders, with 1,014 deaths, accounted for 15.5 percent of total deaths and 38.9 percent of deaths among vulnerable road users. It was recorded that motorcycle riders, with 79 thousand 902 injuries, accounted for 22.8 percent of total injuries in 2023 accidents and 61 percent of injuries among vulnerable road users.

THE RATE IN THE 25-64 AGE GROUP IN FATAL ACCIDENTS WAS 56.3 PERCENT

When deaths were examined by age group, the 0-17 age group accounted for 10.1 percent of total deaths, the 18-24 age group for 13.6 percent, the 25-64 age group for 56.3 percent, and those aged 65 and over for 20 percent.

When the injured were examined by age group, it was observed that the 0-17 age group accounted for 17.8 percent of total injuries, the 18-24 age group for 21.5 percent, the 25-64 age group for 53.9 percent, and those aged 65 and over for 6.8 percent.

Of the total 389 thousand 362 vehicles involved in fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents, 48.5 percent were cars, 23.8 percent were motorcycles, 14 percent were light trucks, 2.4 percent were minibuses, 2.3 percent were bicycles, 2.3 percent were tractor units, 1.9 percent were trucks, 1.7 percent were buses, 0.8 percent were tractors, and 2.4 percent were other vehicles.

THE MONTH WITH THE MOST ACCIDENTS

In Turkey, the month with the highest number of fatal and injury-causing accidents last year was July, with 10.3 percent. The fewest accidents occurred in February, with 5 percent.

When looking at the days of the week, it was observed that fatal and injury-causing accidents occurred most frequently on Fridays, with 15 percent, and least frequently on Wednesdays, with 13.8 percent.