July 07, Colombo (LNW): More than 1,400 people have been killed in road traffic accidents across the country so far this year, with police warning that both crashes and fatalities are continuing to rise.
Addressing a media briefing at the Government Information Department as part of National Accident Prevention Week, Director of Traffic Control and Road Safety, Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, said 1,355 fatal road accidents had been recorded between January 01 and July 05, 2026, resulting in 1,424 deaths.
He said the figures represent a noticeable increase compared with the same period last year, with 108 more road accidents and 110 additional fatalities recorded, describing the trend as deeply concerning.
According to SSP Ranagala, the leading factors contributing to road accidents include careless driving, driver distraction, speeding, poor road infrastructure, and mechanical defects caused by inadequate vehicle maintenance.
Police data also show that motorcyclists and pedestrians remain the most at-risk road users. So far this year, 488 motorcyclists and 484 pedestrians have lost their lives in road accidents, making them the two groups most affected by fatal crashes.
He added that these two categories of road users also account for the largest proportion of people sustaining serious injuries in traffic accidents.