Most road accidents that cause injuries and loss of life are committed by experienced drivers. According to INSTAT data, the group of drivers with the most experience, over 9 years of driving license, accounts for the majority of accidents with 925 injured in 2024, up from 632 in 2023, while the number of victims has slightly decreased, from 82 in 2023 to 73 in 2024.
This category of drivers caused 44 percent of injuries in road accidents last year and 42 percent of fatalities. The latest data on road accidents in Albania shows a significant increase in the number of injuries and deaths for 2024, especially in cases where drivers are unlicensed, minors or have left the scene of the accident.
In the “Unlicensed Driver” category, 99 injuries were recorded in 2024, an increase of 29% compared to 2023 (77 injuries). The number of deaths in this category increased from 12 in 2023 to 20 in 2024, an increase of 66.6%, indicating a deterioration in the consequences caused by people driving without a driver’s license.
Meanwhile, another group of concern are drivers under the age of 18, namely in the age group of 0-3 years of driving experience, which usually includes minor drivers. In 2024, they caused 391 injuries (from 284 in 2023), with an increase of over 37%, while the number of victims remained almost the same from 36 in 2023, and 35 in 2024.
For the age group with 3–6 years of driving experience, the figures are somewhat more stable, from 236 injuries in 2023 to 300 in 2024, while fatalities fell from 25 to 18. At the same time, drivers with 6–9 years of driving experience caused 326 injuries in 2024, an increase compared to 277 in 2023, but with a decrease in fatalities from 34 to 24.
Another worrying figure is the increase in cases where drivers have left the scene of an accident. From 33 injured and 3 fatalities in 2023, to 39 injured and 5 fatalities in 2024.
Data indicates that attention has fallen for stronger police checks, harsher penalties for driving without a license and for irresponsible drivers. Road accidents are still a major cause of death, especially in the younger age group, and serious injury to another part that requires lifelong health care./ Monitor
