In January, São Paulo experienced a grim statistic where motorcyclists and pedestrians accounted for almost 90% of traffic-related deaths, with a total of 65 fatalities in the month. Out of these, 30 involved motorcyclists and 27 were pedestrians who were struck by vehicles. The figures for the first month of 2026 mirrored those recorded in January 2025, indicating a persistent trend in roadway safety challenges for these vulnerable road users.

Despite the high numbers among motorcyclists and pedestrians, overall traffic deaths in both the city and the state showed a decline when comparing January figures from the two years, falling by 4.4% in the capital and 11.2% statewide. This reduction reflects efforts to improve road safety, although the fatalities among motorcyclists and pedestrians still raise concerns about the effectiveness of current measures and the need for targeted interventions.

The data, which originated from the Infosiga (the state monitoring system for traffic fatalities), highlighted specific incidents, including a case where a drunk driver struck three pedestrians outside a bar in the Vila Jacuí area, resulting in one death and leading to the driver's immediate arrest. Such incidents underscore the ongoing issues of reckless driving and highlight the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws to protect vulnerable populations.