08.04.2025 13:20
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that during this year's Ramadan Bayram holiday, fatal and injury-related traffic accidents decreased by 4.6% compared to the previous year, falling to 6,268. However, he noted that 74 people lost their lives in these accidents, and 10,199 individuals were injured.
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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that during this year's Ramadan Bayram holiday, fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents decreased by 4.6% compared to the previous year, falling to 6,268, but unfortunately, 74 people lost their lives in accidents, and 10,199 were injured. Yerlikaya announced that they have prepared a draft law consisting of 32 articles proposing amendments to the Highway Traffic Law to increase the deterrence of traffic rule violations.
"WE HAVE RAISED TRAFFIC SAFETY TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL DURING THE HOLIDAY"
In a video statement he made on his social media account, Yerlikaya addressed traffic data related to the holiday. Starting his words by celebrating the citizens' past holiday, Yerlikaya stated that they are mobilized to ensure that holidays do not turn into pain. Yerlikaya continued his remarks as follows:
"Holidays are blessed days when we reunite with our loved ones, alleviate our longing for them, and where brotherhood and sharing reach their peak. As the Ministry of Interior, we have mobilized to ensure that these meaningful days do not turn into pain in even a single household, saying 'May the end of the road be a holiday.' On March 25, we sent our circular containing traffic measures for the Ramadan Bayram holiday to the governors of all 81 provinces to ensure that the holiday passes in peace and security. Between March 26 and April 8, for 14 days, we raised traffic safety to the highest level.
"69,011 PERSONNEL WERE ON DUTY"
"Our goal was very clear; we should not lose even a single life in traffic accidents. In line with this goal, 69,011 police and gendarmerie personnel were on duty across our country to carry out traffic inspections... During this period, we monitored 19,326 kilometers of road with 468 average speed detection systems. We also took additional measures to prevent bus accidents. 720 of our personnel boarded buses as civilian passengers to monitor drivers during the journey. We increased our speed checks with 1,271 radar vehicles. We conducted aerial inspections for 3,081 hours with drones and helicopters."
"74 OF OUR CITIZENS LOST THEIR LIVES AT THE SCENE"
Yerlikaya reported that they increased the number of inspections by 30.6% compared to last year's Ramadan Bayram holiday, inspecting 4,957,939 vehicles.
After the inspections, it was reported that 593,654 drivers were subjected to penalties, 48,021 vehicles were banned from traffic until their deficiencies were corrected, and 7,720 drivers had their licenses confiscated. Yerlikaya provided the following information:
"During the 2024 Ramadan Bayram holiday, 6,574 fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents occurred, and unfortunately, we lost 75 lives at the scene of these accidents, while 10,909 citizens were injured. During this year's Ramadan Bayram holiday, however, fatal and injury-causing traffic accidents decreased by 4.6%, falling to 6,268. In these accidents, unfortunately, 74 of our citizens lost their lives at the scene, and 10,199 people were injured. I pray for God's mercy on the deceased citizens and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The numbers I provided are not just statistics... Each one represents a life. A home left desolate, a life left incomplete. An orphaned child. A holiday they will remember with pain."
"WE LOST 8 LIVES ON THE ROADS EVERY DAY"
"Unfortunately, during this holiday, we lost 8 lives on the roads every day. Every day, bad news fell on one of our cities. So what were the causes of these accidents? Once again, excessive speed comes first. 41% of the 6,268 accidents were caused by speed violations. We lost 44 of our lives due to excessive speed. Other reasons include failure to yield, rear-end collisions, lane violations, turning rules, and running red lights, which are fundamental traffic rules.
Here is that accident at the Pendik toll booths that saddened us all. Four of our teachers in the vehicle that rear-ended the truck waiting at the toll booth unfortunately lost their lives. Yesterday, another similar accident occurred at the Pendik toll booths. In that accident, unfortunately, one of our citizens lost their life. In both of these accidents, both excessive speed and rear-end collisions were involved. During the holiday period, 45% of the traffic accidents occurred between 14:00 and 20:00. 44.6% of our fatalities also occurred in the same time frame."
"RULES SAVE OUR LIVES"
"Every accident we experience teaches us the same lesson repeatedly. For each one, we said 'If only'... But 'if only' does not save lives. It is rules that save life, our lives. Attention saves lives. Responsibility saves lives."
"WE HAVE PREPARED A DRAFT LAW AMENDMENT"
"As a ministry, we have prepared a draft law consisting of 32 articles to increase the deterrence of traffic rule violations in the Highway Traffic Law. We will present this draft to our esteemed Parliament in the coming days. As the deterrence against rule violations increases, traffic accidents will decrease even further. On this occasion, I would like to thank all drivers who strictly adhere to traffic rules."
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