Road fatalities in Iran are no longer an accident; they are a structural trend. Statistics show the country ranks among the worst in the world. According to data from the Insurance Research Center, Iran ranks 188th out of 190 countries in road safety. This is the result of decades of rent-seeking policymaking and lack of accountability.
Approximately 800,000 accidents occur annually. Every day, 40 people are killed. That means one person dies every 36 minutes. Road fatalities are the second leading cause of death in the country after air pollution. These figures reflect a national catastrophe that has been normalized.
Statistics that speak volumes
According to official reports, during a nine-month period (from March 21 to December 22, 2025), more than 15,513 people lost their lives in accidents. This figure shows an increase compared to the previous year. The annual average stands at about 19,800 deaths. Over 20 years, 396,000 people have died. This number exceeds the casualties of many wars.
More than 6.3 million people have also been injured or disabled during this period. About 10% to 15% of them suffer from permanent disabilities. 62% of those killed are of working age. The highest number of fatalities is among those aged 20 to 30.
Estimates show that about 7% of the gross national product is spent on the consequences of accidents. The cost of each fatality is estimated at more than 220 billion rials (approximately 137,000 dollars). These figures are not just about money. They represent lost lives, shattered families, and destroyed futures.
During the Iranian New Year holidays (March 21, 2025), 747 people lost their lives and more than 16,000 were injured. This scenario repeats every year.
Unsafe vehicles; rent-seeking industry and people’s lives
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian regime’s Law Enforcement Force announced that 50% to 60% of fatal accidents are linked to unsafe vehicles. Some domestic cars have been called “chariots of death.” The share of domestic vehicles such as Pride and Peugeot in accidents is reported to be over 50%.
The Research Center of the Iranian regime’s parliament has also spoken of an inherent decline in the quality of the automotive industry. The number of technical defects in the first three months of use is three times the global average. In many accidents, airbags have failed to deploy. Reports indicate that safety equipment either does not activate or lacks adequate quality.
Nevertheless, the rent-seeking structure of the automotive industry remains protected. Monopoly, lack of competition, and political connections prevent accountability. Whenever the issue of imports is raised, power networks block it. Road fatalities are pushed to the margins in the process.
Worn-out roads and superficial oversight
A significant portion of road fatalities is linked to inadequate infrastructure. Many roads have worn-out asphalt. Lane markings have faded. Lighting is insufficient. Guardrails are missing. Accident-prone areas have not been repaired. In some provinces, the lack of highways has concentrated danger on main routes.
In the city of Tehran, 47% of fatal accidents involve motorcyclists. Many of them do not wear helmets.
Campaigns such as “No to accidents” or promotional slogans have had no meaningful impact. A propaganda structure has replaced real reform. The focus on the human factor often serves as a cover to evade institutional responsibility.
A tragedy that has become normalized
Road fatalities have become part of everyday life. Society is confronted with numbers, not people. Yet each number represents a grieving family, an orphaned child, and a lost worker.
In a country that claims to provide security, roads have turned into killing fields. This situation is not the result of mere managerial weakness. It is the outcome of a closed and unaccountable structure—a system in which citizens’ lives are not a priority.
Comparison with countries such as Japan or the United Kingdom reveals a deep gap. Despite having more vehicles, their fatalities are significantly lower. The difference is not in culture; it is in governance. In a system that is accountable, safety standards become mandatory. In a rent-seeking structure, profit prevails over human life.
This crisis is not accidental. It is the logical result of years of non-transparent management and rent-seeking policymaking. When citizens’ lives have no place in power equations, roads will not be safe either.
