The National Statistics Office (NSO) said that road traffic accidents in Malta rose slightly during the first three months of 2026, with 3,495 accidents reported between January and March, an increase of 0.8% compared with the same period last year.
Despite the rise in accidents, the number of people injured fell by 5.1% to 282, while road fatalities dropped from four to three as compared to 2025 statistics of the same period, the newly published figures for the first quarter of the year of 2026 showed.
The three fatalities involved two men and one woman, the NSO report said.
The victims included a driver, a pedestrian and an e-kick scooter rider. NSO said the scooter rider died after crashing into property, while the pedestrian was struck by a vehicle.
The Northern Harbour district remained Malta's busiest area for road traffic incidents, recording 1,217 accidents, more than a third of all cases nationwide. The Southern Harbour followed with 735 accidents, up by 7.3% over the same period in 2025.
The sharpest percentage increase was registered in the Southeastern district, where accidents climbed by 9.2 % to 378 cases.
By contrast, the Northern district saw the steepest decline, falling by 12.1% to 509 accidents. The Western district also registered a decrease, dropping by 6.4 % to 436 cases.
Across Malta and Gozo, Mondays proved to be the most dangerous day on the roads, accounting for 575 accidents or 16.5% of the total. Thursdays recorded the highest number of injuries, with 52 people injured.
Accidents were most likely to occur during the middle of the day. The period between noon and 2.59pm saw 845 accidents, representing almost a quarter of all reported accidents.
Another 809 accidents occurred between 9am and 11.59am. The quietest period on the roads was between midnight and 2.59am, when 55 accidents were recorded.
Qormi registered the highest number of accidents among localities, with 229 reported cases. Birkirkara followed with 213, while Marsa recorded 175.
At the other end of the scale, Ta' Kerċem, Fontana, Għarb and Għasri each recorded fewer than five accidents during the quarter.
Although overall casualties declined, serious injuries remained a concern. Of the 282 casualties recorded, 91 people suffered grievous injuries. These included 59 drivers, seven passengers and 25 pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.
Men accounted for the overwhelming majority of those seriously injured, making up 76.9% of grievous injuries.
People aged between 26 and 40 represented the largest age group involved in road accidents, accounting for 37.6% of all reported accidents.
Passenger cars continued to dominate Malta's accident statistics, as more than half of all casualties - 52.1% - involved passenger cars, while motorcycles accounted for 35.8%. Goods-carrying vehicles were involved in 5.7% of accidents.
Cyclists represented only a small proportion of those involved in accidents. Three cyclists were caught up in road accidents during the quarter: one suffered grievous injuries, another sustained slight injury and a third escaped with insignificant injuries.
Most injuries resulted from collisions involving more than one vehicle. Accidents between vehicles accounted for 62.1% of all road traffic casualties recorded during the quarter.