Turkey Faces Critical Road Safety Crisis as Ramadan Traffic Deaths Spark Calls for Infrastructure Reform

6 predicted events · 20 source articles analyzed · Model: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929

Turkey's Escalating Road Safety Crisis During Ramadan 2026

Turkey is experiencing a severe spike in traffic-related fatalities during the early days of Ramadan 2026, with multiple incidents across the country revealing systemic infrastructure failures and dangerous driving conditions. The convergence of increased pedestrian traffic to mosques for taravih prayers with inadequate road safety measures has created a deadly situation that demands immediate government intervention.

Current Situation: A Pattern of Preventable Deaths

Between February 19-21, 2026, multiple traffic incidents have claimed at least 7 lives across Turkey, with several others critically injured. The most concerning pattern involves pedestrians struck while traveling to taravih prayers during Ramadan. **Ramadan-Related Pedestrian Fatalities:** - In Sivas on February 19, Nadiye Akalın (78) was killed and her daughter-in-law Zeliha Akalın (57) seriously injured while crossing to attend taravih prayers (Articles 19-20) - In Antalya's Kepez district on February 20, Hatice Kepez (71) died after being struck by a pickup truck at a pedestrian crossing while heading to taravih prayers (Articles 15-18) **Highway and Urban Traffic Incidents:** - On Istanbul's O-3 European Highway in Bağcılar, Ali Aktaş was killed in a horrific double-impact incident after exiting his vehicle on the shoulder, first struck by a car and then run over by an SUV (Articles 3, 6-7, 9, 11) **Criminal Violence:** - In Diyarbakır's Bismil district, Kadir Öncel (29) was found shot dead, allegedly over a debt dispute, with suspect M.A. (46) detained (Articles 1-2, 4-5) - In Hatay's Kırıkhan, a family shooting in a container settlement killed parents Cemile (40) and Hüseyin Yıldırım (45), with daughter Melike critically wounded (Articles 8, 10, 12-14)

Key Trends and Warning Signals

**1. Ramadan Creates Predictable Pedestrian Traffic Spikes** The timing of these fatalities is not coincidental. Ramadan creates concentrated pedestrian movement during evening hours as elderly residents walk to mosques for taravih prayers. According to Article 18, local officials including Kepez Mahalle Muhtarı Yusuf Küçükkaya are explicitly demanding speed bumps and traffic calming measures, indicating awareness that current infrastructure is inadequate. **2. Infrastructure Gaps at Religious Sites** All Ramadan-related fatalities occurred near mosques during predictable prayer times. The Antalya incident (Articles 16-17) shows that even marked pedestrian crossings are insufficient without additional traffic calming measures. Security camera footage captured the Kepez incident, providing clear evidence of the infrastructure failure. **3. Highway Safety Remains Dangerously Inadequate** The Bağcılar O-3 Highway incident (Article 11) demonstrates catastrophic highway design flaws. The emergency shoulder area where Aktaş stopped his vehicle provided no protection, and the incident created "kilometers-long" traffic queues, suggesting inadequate emergency protocols. **4. Post-Earthquake Vulnerabilities in Hatay** The Hatay shooting in a container settlement (Articles 8, 13) highlights ongoing security challenges in temporary housing areas established after the 2023 earthquakes. These settlements, designed as emergency solutions, are becoming permanent communities with insufficient security infrastructure.

Predictions: What Happens Next

**Immediate Government Response (Within 1 Week)** The Turkish government will face mounting public pressure to announce emergency road safety measures, particularly around mosques during Ramadan. Local municipalities, especially in Antalya and Sivas, will likely fast-track installation of speed bumps, enhanced lighting, and possibly temporary traffic control personnel near major mosques for the remainder of Ramadan. The visibility of these incidents during Islam's holiest month creates political urgency that cannot be ignored. **Legislative Action (Within 1-3 Months)** Expect parliamentary discussions on mandatory traffic calming zones around religious sites. Similar to school zone regulations in many countries, Turkey may introduce "mosque zone" speed limits with enhanced penalties during prayer times. The security camera evidence from the Antalya incident (Article 18) provides compelling visual proof that will likely be used in legislative debates. **Infrastructure Investment Announcements (Within 3 Months)** The Transportation Ministry will likely announce a comprehensive audit of pedestrian crossings near mosques and major religious sites. Given Turkey's large elderly population and the cultural importance of mosque attendance, this represents both a public safety necessity and political opportunity. The timing during Ramadan 2026 makes this particularly salient for upcoming electoral considerations. **Continued Ramadan-Related Incidents (Ongoing Risk)** Unfortunately, without immediate intervention, additional pedestrian fatalities during evening prayer times are highly probable throughout the remainder of Ramadan 2026. The pattern is established, the vulnerable population is predictable, and infrastructure changes cannot be implemented quickly enough to prevent all incidents. **Container Settlement Security Review (Within 2 Months)** The Hatay shooting (Articles 10, 12) will trigger reviews of security in earthquake-affected temporary housing. Three years post-earthquake, these "temporary" settlements have become permanent communities requiring proper policing, lighting, and security infrastructure.

The Path Forward

Turkey stands at a critical juncture in road safety policy. The convergence of Ramadan observance, aging infrastructure, and inadequate pedestrian protections has created a preventable public health crisis. The government's response in the coming weeks will determine whether these tragedies catalyze meaningful reform or become another statistical footnote. The most likely outcome is a two-tier response: immediate, visible but superficial measures (temporary speed bumps, increased police presence) followed by slower, more comprehensive infrastructure planning. However, the political visibility of these deaths during Ramadan creates unusual pressure for substantive action. Local officials like those in Kepez are already demanding change. The question is whether national-level political will can match community-level urgency before more families lose loved ones on their way to prayer.