Turkey reports 776 traffic deaths in first five months of 2026

Turkey’s Interior Ministry released data for January–May 2026 showing 266,453 traffic accidents nationwide, resulting in 776 fatalities and 144,101 injuries. In May alone, 56,289 accidents caused 210 deaths and 36,022 injuries.

Drivers were responsible for the majority of crashes, with 109,782 incidents linked to driver error and 80,035 drivers cited for alcohol use. Speeding, red‑light violations and improper lane changes accounted for thousands of accidents. Over 1.9 million drivers received penalties, and more than 9 million vehicle plates were fined.

Regional deaths included Ankara (51), Istanbul (57), İzmir (30) and Bursa (20). In Bursa, 951 injuries were recorded in May, with six deaths that month and a total of 5,240 injured between January and May. The police noted that traffic accidents involving agreements between drivers were not included in the figures.