WASHINGTON — Traffic deaths in the District have climbed sharply this year, with 37 fatalities recorded through November 5 compared with 21 during the same period in 2025, according to figures published Thursday by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The increase amounts to 16 additional deaths, or approximately 76 percent, reversing the improvement reflected in last year’s full-year total of 25 deaths.
The police department’s historical figures show that the District recorded 52 traffic fatalities in both 2023 and 2024, followed by a steep decline in 2025. With nearly two months remaining in 2026, this year’s toll has already surpassed last year’s total.
The figures do not identify which road users account for the increase or explain its causes. The department maintains separate public datasets on crashes, moving violations and traffic safety enforcement, but those records would need further analysis before attributing the rise to particular streets, behaviors or policies.
The November 5 count is provisional and may be revised as investigations and records are updated.
