The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is marked annually on the third Sunday of November. The day is marked to remember the millions of people who have faced death and injury in road crashes since 1993, and to support affected families and communities. The day was adopted to advocate for more robust legislature and enforcement, as well as more appropriate support for victims and their families.
International Statistics, and the Severity of Road Traffic Deaths
Road traffic accidents are known to be the leading killer of people aged between 5 and 29 years old across the globe, as per the United Nations (UN). The Global status report on road safety was introduced by the WHO in December 2018, which outlined concerning statistics even at the time:
- First cause of death among children aged between 5 and 14, and among young adults aged between 15 to 29.
- A total of 54 percent of deaths are motorcyclists (28 percent), pedestrians (23 percent) and cyclists (3 percent).
- 1.35 million road traffic deaths every year.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims website, states their objectives for each year. The day of remembrance seeks to remember all people killed and seriously injured on the roads, acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services, draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries and advocate for an appropriately serious response, advocate for better support for road traffic victims and victim families, and promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.
They describe deaths due to road traffic as a pandemic, highlighting that road victims are increasing by the millions each year, with the current death toll being over 50 million, and hundreds of millions having been injured over the years.
Maldives Under the Microscope
Road traffic accidents in Maldives have become a common occurrence as well, with it making up more than 20 percent of cases reported to police in 2024 (2,880 cases), 2025 (3,079 cases) and 2026 (2,561 cases) as of mid-November according to statistics from the Maldives Police Service website.
Month-by-month statistics are as follows:
- January: 303
- February: 251
- March: 277
- April: 286
- May: 254
- June: 217
- July: 246
- August: 218
- September: 238
- October: 222
- November: 49 (as of 14th November)
Traffic accidents in February and April made up the highest number of total cases for the police. It was the second highest in January, March, May, September, October and November for the time being. It was overtaken by theft for most months, and came in third behind drug cases for a few months.
In 2025, the police outlined road safety and security measures they implemented in order to combat rising road accidents:
- Special checkpoints being put into place aimed towards drivers that violate the speed limit.
- Identification of individuals that drive recklessly and dangerously and attending to them.
- Attending to individuals that park their vehicles on zebra crossings.
- Management of traffic in traffic heavy areas in Male’.
- Manage and oversee Male’ terminal traffic.
- Attending to individuals who drive at high speeds on bridges and highways.
- Attending to individuals who drive at equal speeds on bridges and highways.
- Attending to individuals who overtake vehicles and drive recklessly on bridges and highways.
- Attending to individuals who move products in violation of the law.
While they were implemented and enforcement has been ongoing, the number of accidents still continues to rise. A new Land Transport Act has also been ratified, deeming dangerous and reckless driving to be a crime, punishable by fines and possible jail time.
- Fine between MVR 25,000 and MVR 100,000 in accordance with the degree of the crime.
- If the crime results in injury to another individual, the person who committed the crime will be penalized between MVR 100,000 and MVR 500,000.
- Even if someone who commits such a crime is penalized via the Land Transport Act, they can also be criminally charged under the penal code.
- According to Article 102 (e), those who are charged can also have their license voided between 5 to 10 years.
- Acting in a way that facilitates the crime is also a crime, one of which is giving up control of the vehicle to the individual in the passenger seat. The penalty for such a crime is between MVR 25,000 and MVR 50,000.
Remembering the Injuries and Lives Lost in Maldives
There have been many people who have lost their lives and sustained major injuries to road traffic accidents in Maldives, even only in 2026.
January
- 25th: Two motorcycles collide, one motorcycle had an underage passenger and driver. Injuries were sustained by both.
February
- 8th: Four Maldivian men sustained injuries in an accident on the Sinamale’ bridge, where a car crashed into another car in an adjacent lane, which caused four motorcycles to crash.
- 15th: Two motorcycles that had drivers without licenses collided in Hithadhoo, with the ambulance that was transporting the injured getting into an accident after it crashed into a car which turned on to Hithadhoo Bodu Magu. No injuries were reported in the ambulance accident but the four people on the motorcycles were injured in the initial accident.
- 24th: 16-year-old Mohamed Nihan Nazim, of Hiyaleegulshan, B. Dharavandhoo died after 19-year-old driver Mohamed Aadhin Arif, 19, of Nedhunge, R. Inguraidhoo lost control of the motorcycle, swerving onto the pavement near the traffic lights at the Sinamale’ Bridge on Boduthakurufaanu Magu. The 19-year-old did not have a drivers license and sustained injuries.
March
- 18th: Pickup topples after colliding with the Hulhumale’ Highway fence, injuring two people.
- 21st: Accident in Hithdhoo, Addu, leaves Nizan Najmy, of Kokaa-han'dhuvaruge, S. Hithadhoo in critical condition (serious brain injuries, lung injuries, fractures in neck, ribs, shoulders).
April
- 7th: Two youths seriously injured near the “Raalhugan’du” surf point, where the 19 and 22 year olds were on a speeding motorcycle that crashed into the rear of a car. They were rushed to the emergency room due to their injuries.
May
- 13th: Sinamale’ Bridge accident where a 50-year-old Indian staffer at Island Aviation lost control and skidded under an oncoming MWSC lorry, which crushed him to death on impact.
- 31st: A bus that was traveling from Hulhumale’ to Male’ crashed into two motorcycles on the highway. A woman and a man on two of the motorcycles were rushed to IGMH amidst injuries.
June
- 7th: 36-year-old pedestrian gets struck by motorcycle on Hithigas Magu, sustaining serious injuries to his skull.
July
- 4th: Motorcyclist crashes into several parked cars in Hulhumale’ Phase 2, abandoning the motorcycle and their passenger, who sustained a broken lip and abrasions to various parts of his body.
- 12th: 39-year-old Ibrahim Nasih, of Hulhamale' Plot no. 20054/Green Peak, died after being run over by a large trailer lorry, slipping and rolling under it when he attempted to overtake it.
August
- 29th: A 9-year-old girl was the passenger on a motorcycle driven by the 18-year-old aunt of hers, with the accident occurring near Vinares towers in Hulhumale' Phase 2 . The 9-year-old sustained major injuries and was in critical condition. She passed away while receiving treatment in the ICU. The aunt suffered varying levels of injuries.
- 29th: Ahmed Aunullah of Miskitmagu, Andaazu, Fuvahmulah snatched a car, drove into and crashed into another car, a motorcycle and a palm tree. The woman riding the motorcycle and the 8-year-old passenger both sustained various injuries.
- 31st: A father and son got into an accident on Hulhumale’ Phase 2. The 62-year-old (driver) and 24-year-old (passenger) suffered varied injuries, leaving the father in a serious condition.
September
- 2nd: Two elderly individuals sustained injuries after getting into an accident on Boduthakurufaanu Magu near Dharubaaruge but were ultimately safe after colliding with a bus.
- 20th: Sosun Magu accident resulted in the death of 26-year-old Aishath Maahidha while under treatment at ADK Hospital. Maahu Hassan, Th. Dhiyamigili, whose dangerous driving is believed to have caused the accident while intoxicated, for which he suffered injuries. The accident resulted in the collision of two motorcycles. The other male driving the motorcycle with Maahidha as a passenger also suffered life-threatening brain injuries.
October
- 7th: Accident in Hulhumale’ Phase 2 where five people were injured and were in serious conditions. Two were put in the ICU. The motorcycle that caused the accident was stolen and was being driven by someone who did not have a valid driver's license and had an arrest warrant out for him as well, named Ahmed Uwais, H. Lamiya.
- 17th: Four individuals were arrested in connection with a speeding motorcycle intentionally hitting a police officer on duty on the Sinamale’ Bridge highway.
