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A total of 38,712 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide in 2025, with 2,068 classified as fatal and resulting in 2,567 deaths, according to the Zambia Police Service’s latest road traffic accident report.
The report further showed that 3,687 were serious accidents in which 7,045 people sustained serious injuries, while 7,560 were slight accidents with 11,166 minor injuries recorded. Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed the statistics in a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday.
In addition, 25,397 were recorded as damage-only accidents, bringing the total number of casualties for the year to 20,778.
Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of accidents with 20,230 cases, followed by Copperbelt with 4,988, Central with 3,862, Northwestern with 2,200, Southern with 2,197, Eastern with 1,431, Muchinga with 1,259, Luapula with 1,016, Northern with 798, and Western Province with 731.
A total of 182,054 road traffic offences were recorded in 2025, with the highest numbers reported in Copperbelt (38,633) and Lusaka (36,607), followed by Central (30,731) and Muchinga (23,662).
“Moderate figures were recorded in Northwestern (11,169), Northern (11,000), and Southern (9,304), while the lowest numbers were observed in Luapula (7,630), Eastern (7,235), and Western Province (6,083),” Chilabi said.
According to the statistics, all indicators showed an increase compared to 2024 when 35,731 accidents were recorded, rising by 2,981 to 38,712 in 2025, representing an 8.3 percent increase.
Chilabi said fatal accidents increased from 1,804 in 2024, with 2,199 deaths, to 2,068 in 2025, with 2,567 deaths, representing 264 more fatal accidents and 368 more lives lost.
He pointed out that serious accidents rose from 3,450 to 3,687, while serious injuries increased by 1,247, from 5,798 to 7,045.
Chilabi said slight accidents increased from 7,511 to 7,560, with minor injuries rising from 10,123 to 11,166, an increase of 1,043. Damage-only accidents also went up, from 22,966 in 2024 to 25,397 in 2025.
He said most accidents occurred in the fourth quarter of the year with 10,400 cases, followed by 10,126 in the third quarter, 9,377 in the second, and 8,809 in the first.
A total of 1,493 child casualties were recorded, comprising 866 boys—148 killed, 321 seriously injured, and 397 slightly injured—and 627 girls, of whom 95 were killed, 233 seriously injured, and 299 slightly injured.
He said most of the child victims were pedestrians and passengers.
Chilabi stated that human error remained the leading cause of accidents. “Most accidents were attributed to human error.
He said the most common causes included excessive speed, misjudging clearance distance, failure to keep to the nearside, and disobeying traffic signs or signals,” he said.
In 2024, he said about 146,432 road traffic offences were recorded, with K74,371,515 collected as admissions of guilt.
Chilabi said in 2025, offences increased to 182,054, with K82,276,643 collected, reflecting a rise of K7,905,128, a 24.3 percent increase in offences, and a 10.6 percent rise in revenue collected.
He noted that Fridays recorded the highest number of accidents countrywide with 6,882, followed by Saturdays with 6,249 and Sundays with 5,582, indicating increased risk toward the weekend.
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“Thursdays (5,462) and Wednesdays (5,157) recorded moderate figures, while Mondays (4,536) and Tuesdays (4,844) had the lowest numbers,” he said.
According to the statistics, of the 2,567 deaths recorded, pedestrians were the most affected with 934 killed, followed by motor vehicle passengers with 643 and motorcycle riders with 286.
He indicated that motor vehicle drivers accounted for 279 deaths, motorcycle passengers (pillion riders) for 198, bicycle riders for 181, and bicycle passengers for 46.
Chilabi said the 2025 statistics show a notable increase in accidents and casualties across all categories, with Lusaka Province recording the highest numbers.
He noted that children were among those affected and reiterated that human error remained the major contributing factor, particularly excessive speed, misjudging clearance distance, failure to keep to the nearside, and disobeying traffic signs.
He added that the Zambia Police Service would strengthen road safety strategies in 2026 through enhanced enforcement of traffic laws, engagement with key stakeholders, and intensified public awareness programmes aimed at improving human behaviour and curbing errors.
“We remain grateful for the public’s support and look forward to continued collaboration in ensuring safer roads for all,” he said.
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