In the City of Buenos Aires, road safety is no small matter. Just as crime is a recurring concern in the lives of Argentines, so is the danger that vehicle traffic represents for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Whatever mobility plan you have planned for traveling in Buenos Aires, it is important that you know some basic statistics on road accidents. In this way, as a pedestrian or as an eventual driver of a rental car or bicycle, you can take the necessary precautions and avoid being the next victim.
Some basic questions about traffic in Buenos Aires
- In Buenos Aires, the city is made up of streets, avenues and passages. The city is also crossed or surrounded by highways that connect to the Province of Buenos Aires.
- In Buenos Aires, the steering wheel is on the left side of the dashboard and driving is on the right.
- It is recommended to drive with the low beams on 24 hours a day.
- On streets, the maximum speed allowed is 40 kilometers per hour.
- On avenues, the maximum speed allowed is 60 kilometers per hour.
- At schools and level crossings, the maximum speed is 20 kilometers per hour.
- On highways in the City of Buenos Aires, the maximum speed is 100 kilometers per hour.
- Bicycles must ride in exclusive lanes and respect the corresponding signs. If there are no exclusive lanes on the street or avenue where they are riding, they must ride on the left.
Road Safety in Buenos Aires
At What Times Are Most Traffic Accidents in Buenos Aires Likely to Occur?
Between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM, 40% of traffic accidents in Buenos Aires occur. This correlates with the start of the evening rush hour at 5:00 PM, when vehicles begin to leave offices and workplaces for home.
A similar pattern applies to the time between 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM, during which 30% of traffic accidents in Buenos Aires happen. The reasons? Morning commutes, trucks loading and unloading goods, and the start of the school day.
The time frame from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM accounts for only 12% of accidents. This doesn’t mean that drivers and pedestrians are more cautious; quite the contrary. With fewer vehicles on the road, the chances of a traffic accident decrease significantly. However, breathalyzer tests conducted during these hours often come back positive despite the enforcement of zero-tolerance laws.
| Time of Day | Accidents | Incidence on Total |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon | 17,696 | 40% |
| Evening | 7,724 | 18% |
| Morning | 13,263 | 30% |
| Night | 5,212 | 12% |
| Undetermined | 117 | 0% |
| Total | 44,012 | 100% |
In Which Areas of Buenos Aires Do Traffic Accidents Occur?
Commune 1, which is the city center of Buenos Aires, has the highest percentage of traffic accidents (11%). This is not surprising, considering the tourist flow and the number of people who work or study in the neighborhoods of San Telmo, San Nicolás, Puerto Madero, Monserrat, and Retiro.
Following Commune 1, statistics show a relatively even distribution of traffic accidents across other communes or neighborhoods. Neighborhoods like Palermo (Commune 14), where tourist and commercial activities continue throughout the day, tend to deviate slightly from this norm.
Particular attention should be given to the neighborhoods of Balvanera and San Cristóbal (Commune 3), as they are common transit areas and have a significant impact on traffic accidents. In a large area of Balvanera centered around Callao and Pueyrredón Avenues lies the Once neighborhood, a market where the line between legality and normality is very blurred. Traffic problems are frequent here due to the presence of illegal vendors, delivery trucks, and pedestrians, making it almost impossible for vehicles to move freely.
| Neighborhoods | Commune | Accidents | Percentage Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retiro, San Nicolás, Puerto Madero, San Telmo, Montserrat, Constitución | 1 | 4,767 | 11% |
| Recoleta | 2 | 1,592 | 4% |
| Balvanera, San Cristóbal | 3 | 3,244 | 7% |
| La Boca, Barracas, Parque Patricios, Nueva Pompeya | 4 | 3,139 | 7% |
| Almagro, Boedo | 5 | 2,164 | 5% |
| Caballito | 6 | 1,862 | 4% |
| Flores, Parque Chacabuco | 7 | 2,850 | 6% |
| Villa Soldati, Villa Riachuelo, Villa Lugano | 8 | 2,023 | 5% |
| Liniers, Mataderos, Parque Avellaneda | 9 | 3,007 | 7% |
| Villa Real, Monte Castro, Versalles, Floresta, Vélez Sarsfield, Villa Luro | 10 | 2,562 | 6% |
| Villa General Mitre, Villa Devoto, Villa del Parque, Villa Santa Rita | 11 | 2,512 | 6% |
| Coghlan, Saavedra, Villa Urquiza, Villa Pueyrredón | 12 | 2,884 | 7% |
| Núñez, Belgrano, Colegiales | 13 | 2,633 | 6% |
| Palermo | 14 | 2,955 | 7% |
| Chacarita, Villa Crespo, La Paternal, Villa Ortúzar, Agronomía, Parque Chas | 15 | 3,566 | 8% |
| Undetermined | – | 2,252 | 5% |
| Total | – | 44,012 | 100% |
Streets, Avenues, or Highways?
Over 40% of traffic accidents in Buenos Aires occur on avenues. This group includes General Paz Avenue, which serves as a “border” between Buenos Aires Province and Buenos Aires City, encircling much of the city.
Around 26.45% of traffic accidents occur on streets, while only 1.24% take place on highways.
| Type of Road | Accidents | Percentage Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Highway | 544 | 1.24% |
| General Paz Avenue | 1,157 | 2.63% |
| Avenue | 17,807 | 40.46% |
| Street | 11,640 | 26.45% |
| Undetermined | 12,864 | 29.23% |
| Total | 44,012 | 100% |
Involved in Traffic Accidents (People and Vehicles)
Vehicle drivers are the primary victims of traffic accidents, either suffering serious injuries or dying at the hospital or on the spot.
Pedestrians represent the other side of the coin in traffic accidents, being the main victims of serious injuries or deaths after drivers. Additionally, cyclists are often involved in accidents, whether as victims or necessary participants.
A striking fact is the influence of gender on traffic accidents. In more than 7 out of 10 traffic accidents, the drivers involved are male. At the same time, women tend to suffer the most, as they are often passengers in these accidents.
| Year | Gender | Total | Role of Injured Person | Driver | Passenger | Pedestrian | Cyclist | Unknown/Unspecified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Total | 1,375 | 100% | 45.5% | 6.7% | 19.5% | 4.5% | 23.9% |
| Male | 1,038 | 75.5% | 54.1% | 3.3% | 13.9% | 3.9% | 24.9% | |
| Female | 334 | 24.3% | 18.3% | 17.4% | 37.1% | 6.6% | 20.7% | |
| Unknown | 3 | 0.2% | 66.7% | – | – | – | 33.3% | |
| 2018 | Total | 1,179 | 100% | 37.8% | 7.0% | 19.2% | 6.0% | 29.9% |
| Male | 850 | 72.1% | 45.4% | 3.5% | 12.9% | 5.4% | 32.7% | |
| Female | 329 | 27.9% | 18.2% | 16.1% | 35.3% | 7.6% | 22.8% | |
| 2019 | Total | 1,400 | 100% | 59.2% | 7.4% | 17.6% | 8.0% | 7.7% |
| Male | 1,034 | 73.9% | 69.7% | 3.4% | 11.4% | 7.3% | 8.2% | |
| Female | 364 | 26.0% | 29.7% | 18.7% | 35.2% | 10.2% | 6.3% | |
| Unknown | 2 | 0.1% | 100% | – | – | – | – | |
| 2020 | Total | 653 | 100% | 62.8% | 5.4% | 16.8% | 10.1% | 4.9% |
| Male | 502 | 76.9% | 72.9% | 2.4% | 12.2% | 8.4% | 4.2% | |
| Female | 151 | 23.1% | 29.1% | 15.2% | 32.5% | 15.9% | 7.3% | |
| 2021 | Total | 1,088 | 100% | 59.0% | 5.5% | 21.2% | 11.3% | 3.0% |
| Male | 802 | 73.7% | 68.3% | 2.1% | 15.7% | 10.4% | 3.5% | |
| Female | 286 | 26.3% | 32.9% | 15.0% | 36.4% | 14.0% | 1.7% |
When analyzing the individuals involved or necessary participants in accidents, those responsible for causing the accidents, it is found that nearly 35% are caused by private vehicles (cars and taxis).
Trucks and small vans account for 7% of accidents, while public transportation is responsible for 6.63%.
Motorcycles are involved in 3.93% of accidents as necessary participants, while bicycles have a much smaller share.
A significant portion of traffic accidents is classified as “SD,” meaning that specific information about the necessary participant in each accident is not available. This is due to changes in the data collection method and system since 2020.
| Participant | Accidents | Percentage Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 13,805 | 31.37% |
| Bicycle | 182 | 0.41% |
| Truck | 875 | 1.99% |
| Mixed | 6 | 0.01% |
| Scooter | 16 | 0.04% |
| Motorcycle | 1,729 | 3.93% |
| Mobile | 176 | 0.40% |
| Multiple | 103 | 0.23% |
| Fixed Object | 802 | 1.82% |
| Other | 93 | 0.21% |
| Pedestrian | 32 | 0.07% |
| Undetermined | 19,661 | 44.67% |
| Taxi | 1,287 | 2.92% |
| Public Transport | 2,918 | 6.63% |
| Train | 3 | 0.01% |
| Utility Vehicle | 2,324 | 5.28% |
| Total | 44,012 | 100% |
(Featured Image Source: ElIntra.com.ar/flickr.com)
