2025 Road Deaths Drop, But Pedestrians and Night Risks Rise

Mauritius’s road safety shows a mixed picture for the first five months of 2025. While overall accidents and deaths have decreased compared to last year, some vulnerable groups remain at higher risk.

Slight Drop in Accidents and Deaths

By May 30, 2025, there were 47 fatal accidents, down from 52 at the same date in 2024 — a 9.6% decrease. The number of people killed dropped from 57 to 52, an 8.8% reduction.

These figures suggest a slight improvement over 2024’s total of 125 fatal accidents and 134 deaths for the full year.

If this trend continues, 2025 could see its lowest number of fatalities in recent years. However, the decline is modest and masks ongoing challenges.

Vulnerable Victims: Pedestrians and Motorcyclists

Pedestrians are the most affected so far in 2025. Thirteen pedestrians have died, up from nine in 2024 — a 44.4% increase. Vehicle drivers also saw a small rise, with nine deaths compared to eight last year.

Other victim categories show mixed trends:

• Pedestrians: 13 deaths (+4 from 2024)
• Car drivers: 9 deaths (+1)
• Motorcyclists (riders): 22 deaths (down from 26)
• Passengers: 4 deaths (down from 8)
• Cyclists: no deaths reported
• Passengers on two-wheelers (pillion riders): 2 deaths (up from 1)

Nighttime Risks on the Rise

Accidents are most deadly at night and early morning. The period from midnight to 6 a.m. saw seven deaths in 2025, up from six last year — a 16.7% increase. Other time slots saw declines:

• 6 a.m. to noon: 11 deaths (down from 13)
• Noon to 6 p.m.: 13 deaths (down from 15)
• 6 p.m. to midnight: 16 deaths (down from 18)

The increase during the late-night hours suggests riskier driving at night, possibly due to speeding, fatigue, or alcohol use.

Victims by Age Group

Victim numbers across age groups show some improvement, but challenges remain:

• Children under 15 and teenagers: 1 death (same as 2024)
• 16-25 years: 21 deaths, down from 25
• 26-50 years: 21 deaths, down from 25
• 51-59 years: 1 death, down from 6
• Seniors (60+): 8 deaths, down from 10

While adults and seniors are slightly safer, young people remain highly vulnerable. Elderly pedestrians continue to be at risk.

Mostly Male Victims; Some Foreigners

Out of 52 deaths so far in 2025, 47 victims are men and five are women. Men are more affected across all categories: pedestrians (12 men vs. 1 woman), motorcyclists (all men), passengers, cyclists, and pillion riders. Five male victims are foreigners; no foreign women have died so far.

Vehicles Involved in Fatalities

A total of 72 vehicles were involved in fatal accidents by the end of May 2025. The most common are:

• Private cars: 26 incidents (down from 64 in 2024)
• Motorcycles: 14 incidents
• Vans: 6 incidents
• Heavy trucks: 5 incidents
• Minibuses/buses: 6 incidents

Cars remain the most involved, but motorcyclists’ high death toll indicates their extreme vulnerability in crashes.

Looking Ahead

While fewer deaths and accidents suggest progress, the rise in pedestrian and night-time fatalities, alongside the ongoing risks for motorcyclists, highlight the need for continued efforts.

Authorities are urged to boost awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable groups—pedestrians, motorcyclists, and young drivers—and to intensify traffic controls during high-risk hours.

Behind these numbers are human tragedies. Only collective action can keep more people safe on Mauritius’s roads.

Source: Le Mauricien