𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

…𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 1,118, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒋𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆

By Lhendup Wangmo

The annual report released by the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) reveals a slight increase in the number of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) nationwide, along with mixed trends in fatalities and injuries across the country’s divisions. In 2023, there were 1,062 accidents, resulting in 104 fatalities and 636 injuries. The total number of accidents rose to 1,118 in 2024, yet fatalities decreased to 96, and injuries saw a modest decline to 632. These figures suggest a slight improvement in the overall severity of accidents, despite the increase in the total number of incidents reported.

The report highlights the specific trends in each division. Division I, Paro, recorded 92 accidents in 2023, leading to 3 fatalities and 28 injuries. However, in 2024, the number of accidents reduced to 76, but the fatalities rose sharply to 10, while injuries saw a slight increase to 29. Similarly, Division II, Punakha, saw a notable rise in accidents from 88 in 2023 to 100 in 2024. Despite the increase, fatalities decreased from 10 to 4, though injuries rose from 33 to 40. In Division III, Phuntsholing, there was a significant decrease in accidents, from 171 in 2023 to 127 in 2024. However, the region experienced a worrying increase in fatalities, from 11 to 18, while injuries dropped from 95 to 50.

Samtse, in Division IV, recorded a rise in accidents from 63 in 2023 to 74 in 2024. The number of fatalities decreased from 6 to 3, while injuries saw a minor drop from 28 to 24. In Division V, Gelephu, the number of accidents surged from 59 in 2023 to 85 in 2024, while fatalities dropped from 12 to 6, and injuries slightly increased from 40 to 41. Division VI, Tsirang, reported a decrease in accidents from 98 in 2023 to 73 in 2024, while fatalities rose from 2 to 4, and injuries decreased significantly from 54 to 20.

Trongsa, in Division VII, reported a decline in accidents, from 16 in 2023 to 9 in 2024, but fatalities surged from none in 2023 to 5 in 2024, while injuries increased from 7 to 16. Division VIII, Samdrupjongkhar, experienced an uptick in accidents from 46 in 2023 to 55 in 2024, with fatalities increasing from 7 to 10 and injuries rising from 19 to 45.

Division IX, Trashigang, saw a slight decline in accidents from 34 in 2023 to 32 in 2024, but fatalities increased from none to 5, while injuries remained unchanged at 31.

Mongar in Division X experienced a decrease in accidents from 51 in 2023 to 40 in 2024, with fatalities falling from 18 to 12 and injuries dropping from 46 to 32. Wangdue, in Division XII, recorded 89 accidents in 2023, leading to 8 fatalities and 81 injuries, with the figures rising to 100 accidents, 8 fatalities, and 65 injuries in 2024. The Traffic Division in Thimphu had the highest number of accidents, reporting 205 incidents in 2023, which caused 7 deaths and 163 injuries. In 2024, these figures significantly increased to 300 accidents, with 8 fatalities and 220 injuries.

Finally, Division XIII, Bumthang, reported 38 accidents in 2023, resulting in 2 fatalities and 5 injuries, with the figures dropping to 28 accidents, 2 fatalities, and 12 injuries in 2024. Division XIV, Trashiyangtse, recorded 12 accidents in 2023 with no fatalities and 6 injuries, rising to 19 accidents with no fatalities and 7 injuries in 2024.

The report highlights a nationwide increase in motor vehicle accidents, with fluctuations in the severity of outcomes across divisions. The Royal Bhutan Police have called for strengthened road safety initiatives, better infrastructure, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws to curb the rising number of accidents and reduce fatalities and injuries across the country.