According to Istanbul Police Department data, Traffic Branch Directorate teams inspected 1,994,768 vehicles and drivers with 2,074 personnel, 269 team vehicles, and 264 motorized police between January 1 and April 30, 2023. During the same period this year, 3,840,266 inspections were carried out by 3,329 personnel, 500 team vehicles, and 236 motorized teams, representing a nearly 93% increase.
While the teams issued 960,000 traffic fines in the first four months of last year, there was a 37.78% increase in the number of penalties issued this year, totaling 1,323,802 during the same period. Despite the growing traffic problems and accidents in the city, the number of fatalities decreased compared to the same period in the past two years.
In the first four months of 2023, there were 45 fatal accidents recorded, while this year, there were 42 fatal accidents during the same period. Of these accidents, 15 were motorcycle and motorbike accidents. However, there was a 32.53% increase in injury accidents in the city.
While there were 6,818 injury accidents in the first four months of last year, the number increased to 9,039 this year. The number of non-fatal accidents also increased by 31.89% during the same periods of the past two years, with 18,976 accidents in 2024 compared to 14,387 in 2023.
The increased traffic congestion and public transportation problems in the mega city have led people to use motorcycles and motorbikes. Throughout 2023, there were 631,244 motorcycles and motorbikes on the road, while in the first four months of this year, 675,238 of these vehicles were in traffic.
With the increased use of motorcycles and motorbikes, there has also been an increase in accident rates. In the first four months of last year, there were 3,682 accidents involving these vehicles, compared to 6,328 accidents in 2024. Although the number of motorcycle licenses obtained between January 1 and April 30, 2023 was 216,917, there was an increase of 20,323 this year, bringing the total to 237,240.
While the rate of obtaining licenses may seem to have increased, it is alarming that 23,671 people did not have a license despite 43,994 new vehicles entering traffic this year. This situation highlights the importance of promoting safe and responsible driving practices to reduce accidents and ensure road safety in the city.
