In the first quarter of 2026, 162 people died in traffic accidents in Bogota. That means an increase of 13% compared to the same period of 2025. The situation is critical for the authorities as it is an alarming and painful surge for citizens.
Thus, between January and March, 18 more people died than in the same period last year. The accidents in which they died were preventable, and authorities continue focusing their attention on speeding and dangerous maneuvers on arterial roads.
A report by the District Secretariat of Mobility warns about who is dying on the city’s streets: 44% of the fatal victims are motorcyclists, consolidating them as the highest risk road actor.
But pedestrians also represent a critical vulnerability, as they account for 38% of deaths. In that group, according to the capital’s traffic authority, 58% were older adults, a population group that requires special protection from drivers.
Figures that terrify and dangerous places
In summary, according to the District Secretariat of Mobility, motorcyclists accounted for 44% of fatalities; pedestrians, 38%; cyclists, 14%; and vehicles (4+ wheels), 4%.
In that tragic scenario, infrastructure (the roads) and time of day are determining factors. The same authority found that 71% of deaths occur on arterial roads, where drivers tend to ignore the speed limit, which is 50 km/h.
Avenida NQS, between 1st Street and 68th Street, a stretch that already records 13 deaths so far this year, is one of the identified black spots.
Authorities also warn that 15% of fatal incidents are concentrated in a specific time slot: between 10:00 p.m. and midnight, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Claudia Diaz, District Secretary of Mobility, emphasized that although daily interventions are carried out, real change depends on individual responsibility. “We need all the people who move in Bogota and their responsible actions on the road,” she said.
Vital recommendations to save lives:
Respect limits: Do not exceed 50 km/h on main roads and 30 km/h in residential or school zones.
Zero alcohol: Never drive under the influence of alcoholic beverages or psychoactive substances.
Protection of the vulnerable: Always give priority to pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Safe maneuvers: Motorcyclists are required to avoid zigzagging and maintain a safe distance from heavy cargo vehicles such as dump trucks and tractor trailers.
The district administration recalled that road safety is not only a matter of fines, but of preserving life in a city that has already lost more than 160 citizens in less than four months.