Traffic accidents have killed more than 500 people in Yangon Region this year, according to traffic police. From January through October, the region has also seen 2,700 traffic injuries and a total of 2,145 reported accidents.
Furthermore, police figures show that the danger of Yangon’s roads is not decreasing significantly. In January, 174 traffic accidents killed 35 people and injured 197. In May, 215 accidents killed 51 people and injured 275. In October, 182 accidents killed 42 people and injured 224.
Traffic deaths have also become more frequent in the second half of 2017. From January to June, traffic police recorded around 200 deaths. If the rate continues to accelerate, the death toll for 2017 is likely to exceed the 623 total deaths recorded in 2016.
“Traffic accidents can be reduced if traffic rules are obeyed,” Yangon Traffic Police announced upon the release of the statistics. “Our traffic police are also working to reduce such accidents and the dangers of traffic. Most accidents involving small vehicles were caused by speeding.”
Under Myanmar laws, drivers involved in accidents are held responsible for the damages and possibly for criminal charges under sections 279 (reckless driving), 404 (culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt), or 338 (causing grievous hurt). Drivers frequently flee the scene of an accident to avoid prosecution.
While Yangon Region has the highest traffic accident rate in the country, other regions also suffer traffic woes, particularly Bago, Mandalay, and Sagaing. In June alone, 355 people were killed in traffic accidents around Myanmar, meaning there was an average of 12 road deaths every day that month.
