Likaj: Increased number of traffic fatalities in Albania

Forensic engineer from Tirana Sink Fadil Likaj says that this year Albania has recorded an increase in the number of fatalities in traffic accidents compared to 2024, and that the largest number of incidents occurred during the summer period, largely due to foreign tourists. He added that the rise in accidents has also been driven by scooters and electric scooters, as well as driver inattentiveness toward pedestrians, cyclists, and roadworks, stressing that the most important factor in preventing accidents is public awareness.

“Traffic accidents in Albania usually happen because drivers are not careful about the actions they take on the road, when entering a main road from a side road, when turning right or left, unexpectedly obstructing other vehicles. This has caused accidents with fatal consequences in Albania. Other cases involve vehicles hitting pedestrians and cyclists. These accidents in Albania are on the rise, and this is because pedestrians are irresponsible, entering main or side roads inattentively when vehicles have the right of way. This does not happen only in Albania. We are in the Balkans, and people are not very careful and do not properly apply traffic rules, thinking that drivers can see them and will not hit them. This is difficult because drivers can see at a distance of 35–40 meters, but the speed of the car does not allow them to brake properly,” Likaj said.

He noted that the standard of road infrastructure, although improved compared to previous years, is still another risk factor, and that electric scooters have also contributed to traffic accidents.

“This is because these electric vehicles have relatively high engine power and speed. Their speed ranges from 25 to 45 kilometers per hour. In Albania, minors in particular are involved in such accidents because they do not know traffic rules well and even use intercity roads, such as the large ring road in Tirana, and drivers have difficulty spotting them, especially at night. For this reason, the General Directorate of the State Police in Albania recently adopted a decision banning the use of electric scooters until further notice. I strongly support this decision because Albania was facing a very dangerous situation,” Likaj said.

The most important factor in prevention, he emphasizes, is public awareness, followed by infrastructure and traffic police.

“The traffic police are only one of the elements for increasing road safety parameters. Their role accounts for only ten percent of this process. The most important factor is public awareness, followed by infrastructure and finally the traffic police. The police have also introduced intelligent vehicles by installing smart cameras on many roads that detect traffic violations such as speeding above the permitted limit, drivers not wearing seat belts, or using mobile phones while driving. We are talking about more than 200 kilometers of roads currently under surveillance. These roads with intelligent cameras, as in European Union countries, include routes from Tirana to Durres, Fier and Vlore, as well as Tirana–Elbasan. This is a test to prove the effectiveness of these methods. We have a monitoring center within the Police Department for detecting driver violations. The police also use vehicles equipped with automatic radar,” the expert said.

Likaj notes that complete data on accidents for this year are still not available, but it is known that the number of fatalities has increased compared to 2024.

“The number of traffic accidents in 2024 was 1,666, with 174 fatalities and a large number of injured, who were rehabilitated and are in good health. This year we have more than 1,400 traffic accidents, we do not have complete data for the last month, but the number of fatalities has exceeded last year’s level. The number of fatal traffic accidents increased in 2025. More than 630 traffic accidents in Albania this year occurred due to electric scooters. This has also increased concern and shows that the police must work more, and our country must increase road safety parameters. Our country must be ready to welcome a growing number of tourists, as well as immigrants, in the highest possible level of safety, so that we can have a European Albania,” he said.