Mauritius Road Deaths Surge to 51 Since Start of 2026

Fifty-one people have been killed on Mauritian roads since the beginning of the year, according to figures released in the National Assembly on Tuesday, 12 May.

The statistics, provided by the Commissioner of Police, reveal that the fatalities occurred across 48 separate road traffic accidents.

The data was made public by Acting Prime Minister Arianne Navarre-Marie in response to a parliamentary question from MP Savabaddy on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Arrests and Legal Proceedings

In the wake of these tragedies, 37 individuals have been arrested and provisionally charged with manslaughter. Currently, 36 of those suspects have been granted bail.

One individual remains in custody following an incident involving driving under the influence of drugs.

Police investigations into the various accidents are reportedly ongoing.

Of the recorded fatalities, three were linked to driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, while one hit-and-run case has been officially registered.

Government Response and Enforcement

Addressing the House, the Acting Prime Minister emphasised that the government is maintaining a suite of preventative measures to curb the rising death toll. These include:

• Regular drink and drug-driving checkpoints.
• Increased road blocks and speed enforcement operations.
• Targeted campaigns against dangerous driving.
• National awareness initiatives.

Furthermore, the government has announced plans to toughen penalties for using a mobile phone while driving.

These changes are expected to be implemented through an update to the current Penalty Points System as part of a broader effort to improve road safety standards.

Source: Le Mauricien