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| A female Albanian traffic police officer with blonde hair measuring a driver's alcohol level with a special device on a road in Tirana. |
Road accidents in Albania are increasing year after year, highlighting a concerning trend in road safety. According to recent data from INSTAT, a total of 1,285 road accidents occurred in 2023, with 86.4% caused by driver behavior. In contrast, only 13.6% of accidents involved pedestrians, reflecting a notable improvement in pedestrian awareness. However, drivers remain the primary contributors to road accidents, mostly due to speeding violations and failure to obey traffic signals.
Key Causes of Accidents
Speeding is the most common violation and the leading cause of accidents. Data for 2023 show that fines for "Failure to comply with speed limits" accounted for 24.8% of all administrative measures issued. Additionally, 12.1% of fines were for failing to follow road signals, another significant factor contributing to accidents. These repeated violations among drivers indicate a pressing need for greater awareness and improved behavior on the road.
Administrative Measures and Their Effectiveness
INSTAT also reported an 18% increase in administrative measures against traffic rule violators in 2023 compared to 2022. This effort to tighten administrative controls aims to reduce the number of accidents, although the impact has yet to be fully realized, as violations continue.
Conclusions and Recommendations
While the data show improved awareness among pedestrians, the primary focus remains on drivers. Despite increased fines and administrative measures, these efforts have yet to produce the desired effect in reducing accidents. Additional steps, such as ongoing education for drivers and infrastructure improvements, are essential to ensure safer roads for all road users.