A recent study reveals that serious traffic accidents in Brazil predominantly occur on simple roads during the day, where poor infrastructure and high speeds contribute to frontal collisions, the deadliest type of road impact.
A study conducted by Fundação Dom Cabral has highlighted alarming patterns in traffic accidents on Brazilian federal highways, indicating that serious incidents are primarily concentrated on simple roads during daylight. The research analyzed data from the Federal Highway Police (PRF) from 2018 to 2024, revealing that inadequate infrastructure and speeding are significant contributors to these fatalities, particularly due to frontal collisions, which account for the majority of deadly accidents.
The research meticulously categorized 72 different causes of accidents, linking them to the volume of traffic reported by the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT). The findings underscore a worsening trend in road safety over recent years; following a drop in registered accidents in 2020—which saw the lowest point with 48,416 incidents—the numbers have significantly increased. By 2024, Brazil recorded a staggering 56,116 accidents on federal roads, marking the highest volume of such incidents in the studied period.
This resurgence in road accidents raises urgent concerns about traffic safety in Brazil. With the identified risks stemming from simple roads, local authorities and policymakers may need to reevaluate infrastructure improvements and implement stricter regulations to mitigate speeding and enhance overall road safety. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions aimed at reducing accidents and improving the safety of federal highways, especially in areas deemed most hazardous due to their design and conditions.
