Road safety in Mauritius has sharply deteriorated, with fatal accidents surging 22.5% as of October 30. At least 125 people have lost their lives on Mauritian roads so far this year, up from 102 during the same period last year. With two months remaining, the 2026 death toll has already surpassed the 2025 total of 124 fatalities by one victim. This represents a significant increase in road deaths, with approximately one person now dying on Mauritian roads every two and a half days.
Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and motorcyclists, remain among the most exposed groups. They collectively account for more than seven out of every ten deaths, with 89 out of 125 total fatalities. Pedestrian fatalities have jumped by 57.7%, rising from 26 to 41 victims, making up nearly a third of all traffic deaths. Motorcyclist deaths have also increased by 23.1%, from 39 to 48, representing 38.4% of total fatalities.
The statistics highlight an urgent need to examine and improve road conditions, particularly in built-up areas, near busy roads, and in shared spaces. This includes assessing crossing conditions, pavement quality, pedestrian crossing visibility, street lighting, and driver behavior. While some user categories have recorded encouraging declines, these remain insufficient to reverse the overall trend. For instance, driver deaths have fallen by 15%, from 20 to 17, and cyclist fatalities have dropped by 50%, from two to one.
An analysis of time slots reveals a dramatic spike in fatal accidents during early afternoon hours, from 12:01 pm to 6:00 pm. Fatal accidents have exactly doubled, climbing from 21 in 2025 to 42 in 2026. This period now accounts for 34.4% of all fatal accidents this year, making it the deadliest window and overtaking the evening hours. The data suggests a need to examine afternoon travel patterns, school runs, commercial traffic, and peak-hour conditions.
Age-related data underscores significant rises across multiple demographics, notably among senior citizens. Seniors (60+) have seen fatalities rise from 40 to 48, representing 38.4% of overall road deaths. This raises concerns regarding infrastructure suited to an ageing population. Additionally, fatalities among those aged 51 to 59 have tripled from 5 to 15, and youth (ages 16 to 25) deaths have risen by 31.3%, from 16 to 21.
The report also notes that men account for the vast majority of casualties, making up 80.8% (101 deaths) compared to 19.2% for women (24 deaths). Notably, all 48 killed motorcyclists were male, as were 16 out of 17 drivers killed. Pedestrian deaths comprised 26 men and 15 women, while passenger deaths were split evenly at seven men and seven women. Furthermore, one foreign national was reported to have died.
In total, 177 vehicles were involved in fatal accidents this year, up from 163 in the same period in 2025. The key figures at a glance are: total road deaths (to October 30) 125, up 22.5% from 102 in 2025; total fatal accidents 122, up 27.1% from 96 in 2025; pedestrian fatalities 41, up 57.7% from 26 in 2025; and driver fatalities 17, down 15% from 20 in 2025.
Key points
- Pedestrian fatalities have increased by 57.7% to 41.
- Motorcyclist deaths have risen by 23.1% to 48.
- Senior citizens (60+) account for 38.4% of overall road deaths.
