08.04.2025 11:40
During the 9-day holiday, 74 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, and 10,199 others were injured. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, in a statement regarding the accidents, attributed the causes to factors such as excessive speed, violation of right of way, and rear-end collisions.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya made a statement regarding the traffic accidents that occurred during the Ramadan Bayram holiday. Yerlikaya said, "We have taken additional measures against bus accidents. 720 of our personnel boarded buses as civilian passengers. During the Ramadan Bayram holiday, 74 people lost their lives, and 10,199 people were injured."
Speaking at the press conference, Yerlikaya used the following expressions:
"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, saying, 'May the end of the road be a holiday!'
"WE RAISED TRAFFIC SAFETY TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR 14 DAYS"
On March 25, we sent our circular containing 'Traffic Measures' to the governors of all 81 provinces to ensure that the Ramadan Bayram holiday passes in peace and security. Between March 26 and April 8, for 14 days, we elevated traffic safety to the highest level. Our goal was very clear: 'Let’s not lose even a single life in a traffic accident!' In line with this goal, 69,011 police and gendarmerie personnel were on duty across our country to conduct traffic inspections... During this period, we monitored 19,326 km of road with 468 average speed detection systems.
Compared to last year's Ramadan Bayram holiday, we increased the number of inspections by 30.6%. In total, we inspected 4,957,939 vehicles. Following these inspections, 593,654 drivers were subjected to penalties. 48,021 vehicles were banned from traffic until their deficiencies were corrected. The licenses of 7,720 drivers were confiscated.
74 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
During the 2024 Ramadan Bayram holiday, there were 6,574 traffic accidents with fatalities and injuries; unfortunately, we lost 75 lives at the scene of these accidents. 10,909 of our citizens were also injured. However, during this year's Ramadan Bayram holiday, the number of 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. 10,199 people were also 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, dear members of the press... Each one represents a life! A home left desolate, a life left incomplete. An orphaned child. A holiday they will remember with pain!
Yes, unfortunately, during this holiday, we lost 8 lives on the roads every day. Every day, bad news fell upon one of our cities. So what were the causes of these accidents? Again, at the forefront is "excessive speed." 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 a red light," which are fundamental traffic rules!
ACCIDENTS AT TOLL BOOTHS
Here! The accident at the Pendik toll booths that saddened us all, involved 4 of our teachers in a vehicle that crashed into a truck waiting at the toll booth; unfortunately, they lost their lives. Yesterday, a similar accident occurred again at the Pendik toll booths. In that accident, unfortunately, 1 of our citizens lost their life. In both of these accidents, there were violations of both "excessive speed" and "rear-end collisions."