[79574] Summary of Eid al-Adha holiday in Turkey: Decrease in the number of traffic accidents and heavy traffic congestion

Summary of holiday traffic in Turkey: Data and congestion

The Turkish Ministry of Interior, led by Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, reported that during the 9-day Eid al-Adha holiday, 70 people were killed in traffic accidents. Official data, as published by TRT Haber and DoğruHaber, indicate that this is the lowest mortality rate recorded during the holiday period in Turkey in the last decade. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the trend and emphasized that "during this holiday, there was a decrease in fatal traffic accidents compared to previous years."

As the holiday ended, local channels including Sputnik Türkiye and TGRT Haber reported heavy traffic congestion on the roads back to Istanbul and Ankara. On the morning of the first workday after the holiday, the traffic density in Istanbul was measured at approximately 68%, with drivers encountering long queues and particularly busy routes, as reported by Haber Gündem.

At the same time, GündemX and Haber Gündem warned about the closure of sections of the highway (TEM Otoyolu) due to planned infrastructure and maintenance works, which is expected to add to the difficulties for those returning from their vacations.

In a related political context, while addressing the issue of infrastructure, President Erdoğan noted in Sputnik Türkiye the operational success of Istanbul Airport, claiming it reached a record of 1,730 takeoffs and landings in a single day, while criticizing opponents of the project from the past. Government sources and state agencies in Turkey present a narrative of improvement in road safety and infrastructure efficiency, which is highlighted in state media coverage.