Motor vehicle accidents continue to be a major public-safety concern in Bhutan. According to the Police’s Statistical Yearbook, while most resulted only in property damage, hundreds involved injuries or deaths, leaving more than 800 people injured or killed. And behind these numbers are people whose lives can change in a matter of seconds.
In total, 103 people lost their lives, and another 778 were injured in road traffic accidents last year.
But the impact of an accident does not always end when the injured person leaves the hospital.
For a 32-year-old woman who requested anonymity, a car crash during a family trip last year continues to affect her.
“My family got into an accident while on a family trip. After the accident, I was so traumatised that I could not get into a car for three to four months. Even when I did, I felt very anxious and afraid. I am still very afraid today, and I no longer feel comfortable travelling long distances. The main reason for the accident was that we lost control of the car.”
According to the Police data, many of the crashes resulting in death or injury were because of loss of proper control over the vehicle and drunk driving.
But it is not only drivers who are at risk. Passengers accounted for 448 casualties, or more than half of all road casualties. Drivers accounted for another 328.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion riders made up 105 casualties.
Likewise, taxi driver Namgay Tandin highlights another side of road accidents. He has been at this workshop for the past five days. The vehicle was damaged after another car collided with it while attempting to exit a parking area, disrupting his source of income.
But this is not Namgay’s first accident. Since becoming a taxi driver, he says he has been involved in ten accidents, most involving collisions with other vehicles.
“Of the ten accidents, most involved collisions with other cars. In many cases, overspeeding was a major factor. Sometimes, our cars get hit from behind because other drivers are speeding. So, we need to be more aware and concentrate while driving.”
Namgay’s experience reflects a wider road-safety problem.
According to the Police Statistical Yearbook 2025, Bhutan recorded 1,448 road traffic accidents last year. Of these, 493 involved casualties, including 76 fatal accidents and 417 injury accidents. The remaining 955 accidents resulted in property damage only.
By vehicle type, light vehicles were involved in the majority of casualty accidents, with 389 accidents recorded in total. However, heavy vehicles and two-wheelers carried greater risks. Though involved in fewer crashes, they were linked to more severe outcomes.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sonam Pem & Sangay Chezom
