Road fatalities drop by 13%

The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has recorded a significant drop in road traffic accidents and fatalities during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

Overall, the road traffic accidents decreased by 6 percent, from 1,894 cases in 2025 to 1,784 in 2026.

Similarly, the number of fatal accidents dropped by 15 percent, from 411 to 351, while the road traffic deaths decreased by 13 percent, from 464 to 406.

Regionally, the Central West and South West regions accounted for 68 percent of all reported road traffic accidents.

In terms of casualties, men are the most affected, accounting for 78 percent of all casualties and 84 percent of fatalities.
However, the people aged between 25 and 44 years are the most affected age group.

Meanwhile, the pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users, accounting for 43 percent of all casualties, followed by passengers (28%), motorcyclists (14%), pedal cyclists (9%) and drivers (6%). Also, the driver behaviour, particularly excessive speed, remained the leading cause of the accidents.

MPS urges all road users to continue observing traffic laws and exercising caution on the roads. The Service will continue intensifying traffic law enforcement and collaborating with stakeholders to further improve road safety across the country.