In 2024, the Senegalese National Gendarmerie stepped up its efforts to reduce road accidents, leading to an overall 4.8% drop in incidents. However, the toll remains worrying: 687 people lost their lives on the roads, highlighting the persistent severity of the problem despite the measures in place. This was revealed by Colonel Issa Diack, head of the Gendarmerie Intelligence and Operations Center, during the presentation of the 2024 annual data, held at the Samba Déby Diallo barracks headquarters.

The assessment is alarming: out of 5,212 recorded accidents, 8,547 injuries and 687 deaths were recorded, representing a ratio of 1.64 injuries per accident and 0.13 deaths. Although these figures mark a slight improvement, they highlight the urgent need to strengthen prevention and controls. The colonel particularly stressed that "nighttime accidents, which represent 26.11% of cases, are often more fatal, due to excessive speed, fatigue and alcohol consumption". The ban on intercity transport between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. has reduced nighttime accidents by 35%, but a peak of 65% of deaths in July indicates a possible shift of traffic during the day.

Dakar, epicenter of fatal accidents

Breaking down the figures by locality, Colonel Diack indicated that "the capital recorded the highest number of accidents with 2,841 cases, followed by Thiès (431 cases) and Saint-Louis (257 cases)". Private vehicles dominate the statistics (49.63% of accidents), followed by motorcycles and public transport. Motorcyclists, who are particularly vulnerable, saw their mortality increase significantly between December and January, a period marked by an increase in the number of motorcycles in circulation in Dakar and other regions.

Insufficient Measures

Strict enforcement of new regulations, increased controls and the use of portable radars have improved the monitoring of infractions. However, the number of deaths remains high. In addition, accidents involving boats increased by 3%, from 1,784 to 1,834 cases in 2024. The gendarmerie aims to further reduce road deaths. "Despite an improvement in overall statistics, 687 families lost a loved one in 2024. The fight against road insecurity must continue with stricter measures, increased awareness and increased control, particularly for motorcyclists and night traffic," concluded Colonel Diack.