The alarming figures for road accidents in the first quarter of the year: in Colombia, one person dies on the roads every hour.

News: Pedestrians and motorcycle users are the main victims in traffic accidents. Photo: Jaiver Nieto. Journalist. 10.05.2026 18:05. Updated: 10.05.2026 18:05. With a total of 9,007 deaths in 2025 and a start to the year that breaks all negative records, road safety in the country has become a silent public health emergency. In Colombia, one person dies on the roads every hour, and almost two people are injured every minute, which represents the worst historical record of traffic accidents in the country. The red alert has intensified during the first quarter of 2026. According to the report from the 'Velocity' alliance, which includes academic and civil organizations, the strategy has achieved a 100% reduction in deaths on Boyacá Avenue in Bogotá. For retired General Pablo Ferney Ruiz Garzón, Secretary of Mobility of Medellín, the strategy must be to save lives. "Our daily motto is: 'our job is to save lives'. Every action and work that we carry out from our secretariat is focused on preventing deaths in traffic accidents," said Ruiz Garzón. In light of this situation, which costs the country $10.6 billion annually in healthcare, the League Against Road Violence and a coalition of academic and civil organizations have called on the candidates for the Casa Nariño to attend a conference on "Road safety as a state policy" this Monday, May 11th. At this event, commitments will be sought in five strategic areas: speed management, safe infrastructure, comprehensive care for victims, governance, and funding. "This presidential campaign represents a decisive opportunity for road safety to advance as a national priority with governance, monitoring, and accountability," said Mary Bottagisio, director of the League Against Road Violence, who recalls that the country registered 27,516 serious injuries in 2025, and that more than one million people are injured each year on the roads. Every hour, one person dies on the roads in the country. Almost two people are injured every minute in traffic accidents, and every two days, three minors die in these types of violent incidents.