Ecuador reports rise in traffic accidents and distracted driving

Ecuador is experiencing a significant rise in traffic accidents, with data from the National Transit Agency (ANT) showing a 12.7% increase in incidents between January and July 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Total accidents rose to 12,933, while fatalities increased by 10% and injuries by 10.4%.

Distracted driving, primarily due to mobile phone use, has overtaken speeding as the leading cause of accidents, seeing a 38.3% increase. Guayas and Pichincha provinces report the highest number of incidents.

Recent localized incidents include a bus rollover in the La Floresta sector of Quito, which injured two people and caused road closures, and a heavy trailer accident on the Perimetral road in Guayaquil. The latter occurred shortly after authorities announced plans to increase controls on heavy transport following a series of similar accidents.