Puglia road fatalities drop 21% in 2025 despite a rise in accidents

The 2025 regional road‑safety report for Puglia shows 11,249 traffic accidents with injuries, a 2 % increase over 2024, while deaths fell from 241 to 190 – a 21.2 % decline and a 19.9 % drop in fatal crashes. The mortality index fell from 2.2 % to 1.7 %. The metropolitan area of Bari recorded the highest number of crashes (4,107) but saw its mortality rate drop to 1.1 deaths per 100 incidents. Provinces such as Foggia, Lecce, Taranto and Brindisi also reported reductions in fatalities, the steepest being Taranto (‑37.2 %). The report, presented by regional transport assessor Raffaele Piemontese and ASSET director Elio Sannicandro, cited excessive speed, distraction and non‑compliance with right‑of‑way as leading causes. Officials stressed that the decline demonstrates the impact of safety investments, yet warned that the rise in overall crashes and the concentration of severe incidents during weekends, evenings and on highways require continued preventive actions and public education.