The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

SEVEN people were killed in road traffic accidents in January 2025, compared with five fatalities recorded so far in January 2026, based on The Tribune’s records.

Police declined to provide official traffic fatality statistics of 2025 when contacted, stating that the information would be released at a later date.

The January 2025 fatalities were recorded across New Providence, Grand Bahama, Bimini and Eleuthera, and involved motorists, motorcyclists and a toddler.

The first traffic fatality for 2025 occurred on January 1, when an adult male motorist was killed in a crash on University Boulevard, New Providence. Later that same day, 14-month-old Kengdom died following a three-vehicle collision on Queen’s Highway in Freeport, marking Grand Bahama’s first traffic fatality for the year.

On January 4, a 15-year-old male driver died after his vehicle collided with a flatbed truck on King’s Highway in Bailey Town, Bimini. Two days later, on January 6, a male motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a trailer on Carmichael Road near Guinea Drive, New Providence.

Another adult male motorist died on January 9 following a crash on Queen’s Highway in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. On January 27, a 30-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle collision near Saunders Beach, New Providence, an incident police did not initially report. The final fatality for the month occurred on January 28, when a male believed to be in his 50s or 60s died after a collision with a garbage truck on East Street South near Sapodilla Boulevard, New Providence.

By comparison, five traffic fatalities have been identified during January 2026, based on incidents confirmed through police statements and Tribune records.

The first fatality occurred on January 3, when a 64-year-old man was struck and killed while using a pedestrian crossing on Bahamas Games Boulevard, New Providence. Police did not initially issue a report on the incident.

On January 7, a collision along Queen’s Highway in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, claimed the lives of two men aged 21 and 28.

Another fatality was recorded on January 11, when a 27-year-old male police officer died after his vehicle collided with a wall on East Bay Street, New Providence. The fifth fatality occurred on January 12, when an 18-year-old died following a motorcycle crash in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama.

While January 2026 has so far recorded two fewer traffic fatalities than the same period last year, The Tribune’s review of reported incidents indicates that the timing and completeness of official disclosures may affect the accuracy of month-to-month traffic fatality comparisons.

The continued loss of life on Bahamian roads comes amid findings outlined in an Inter-American Development Bank study reported in December 2025, which described road safety in The Bahamas as a significant public policy issue.

The IDB study found that approximately 40 percent of New Providence residents reported that they or a close family member had been involved in a traffic accident within the past five years. It also noted that more than 6,000 traffic accidents are reported annually nationwide.

According to the report, contributing factors include reckless driving, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, traffic congestion and inconsistent enforcement of traffic laws. The study further highlighted the impact of population growth and increased vehicle ownership, noting that New Providence’s population grew by more than 20 percent between 2010 and 2022, alongside a corresponding rise in motorisation.

The IDB warned that several major intersections in Nassau exceed their design capacity, particularly during peak hours, increasing congestion and collision risks. It also found that fewer than 60 percent of surveyed residents believe traffic laws are enforced consistently.