A recent analysis of National Economic Research Center (CIEN) reveals that Road accidents are not only increasing, but have also become more lethal, recording that one in four traffic accidents ends in the death of a person.
The report warns that this behavior reflects structural failures in the country’s road safety, from compliance with regulations to inspection and the state of infrastructure. Added to this is the human factor, which continues to be decisive in the majority of traffic events.
Statistics warn of a sustained increase in road accidents in the country. According to the report, in five years accidents went from 6,434 in 2020 to 8,864 in 2025, while deaths rose from 1,564 to 2,432 in the same period, evidencing an upward trend.
Fernando Bon, CIEN researcher, stressed that “it is worrying that in Guatemala, one in every four traffic incidents ends with a deceased person” and recalled that the current figure “is not that far from the 3,139 people killed by homicide.”
Furthermore, he indicated that during the last five years these events have caused, on average, 2,960 deaths annually, which reflects it as a relevant public safety problem.
The analysis also details that Guatemala is located in the middle in Latin America in mortality rate due to accidents, with 12.9 deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants, above countries such as Uruguay, Costa Rica or Mexico. In 2025 alone, 54% of traffic events corresponded to collisions between vehicles.
The figures present a worrying scenario for authorities and citizens, especially in a context where mobility increases and prevention measures fail to contain the trend.
Deadliest days and times
The analysis also shows clear patterns. “In 2025, the largest number of traffic events were recorded on Monday, Saturday and Sunday. The hours of greatest occurrence were between 5 and 9 p.m.,” Bon explained.
Added to this is a change in the composition of the vehicle fleet. “There are 3.21 million motorcycles and 2.72 million vehicles, when in previous years the proportion had been similar,” he detailed. However, he warned that public transportation and heavy transportation have the highest accident rates per 100,000 units.
Regarding the approach to the problem, Bon emphasized that “road safety is prevention and control of trauma caused by traffic or the reduction of its consequences,” and stressed that responsibility does not fall solely on the driver, but also on the infrastructure and the authorities.
In that sense, he recalled that traffic management is in charge of the Ministry of the Interior, through the PNC Transit Department, as well as the municipalities through the Municipal Transit Police in 80 jurisdictions.
Finally, the researcher recommended strengthening monitoring and data analysis systems, improving inspection, applying stricter controls to the growth of the vehicle fleet and strengthening the supervision of collective and freight transportation, in addition to promoting permanent road safety education campaigns and a more rigorous licensing policy.
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