Myanmar: Death toll on road accidents exceeds 5000 in 2018

Event

The Myanmar Traffic Police Force reportedly recorded 17,451 traffic accidents in 2018, resulting in 5184 fatalities and more than 26,000 injuries. Yangon recorded the most accidents with 2700 reported, followed by Mandalay (2200 traffic accidents), Ayeyarwady (2033 traffic accidents), and the rest in other regions and states. Notably, some 474 traffic accidents were recorded on the Yangon-Mandalay highway in 2018, resulting in at least 104 associated deaths and 880 others injured.

Context

According to the Myanmar Traffic Police Force, reckless driving, speeding, substandard vehicle safety, and inclement weather are to blame for most such road accidents.

Advice

Western embassies present in Myanmar (Burma) remind their citizens visiting the country that under Burmese law, the driver of a car involved in an accident with a pedestrian is always at fault and that traveling by road between many areas outside the key destinations of Rangoon, Mandalay, Bago, and Irrawaddy regions is restricted.