Traffic Fatality Rates Dip but Remain High
- Selina Barker
- May 14
- 2 min read
Road and traffic fatalities across the European Union have dropped slightly since 2023 but are not decreasing at a rate consistent with targets for 2030 and 2050.
In March, the European Commission “released preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2024, reporting around 19,800 deaths - a 3% decrease from 2023, equivalent to 600 fewer lives lost” across the European Union.
On average, the EU has “44 road deaths per million inhabitants.” Detailed numbers for 2024 are not yet available; however, these early reports are optimistic about road deaths decreasing overall.
“Between 2019 and 2023…there were around 1000 fewer fatalities in cars and 900 fewer pedestrians killed.”
Is it Enough?
Although the numbers are decreasing, they are not falling fast enough to be on track with the target that the EU set in 2018 for a 50% reduction in “road deaths – and, for the first time, also serious injuries – by 2030”. In the same plan, the EU introduced ‘Vision Zero’– a road safety campaign aiming to reach zero road deaths by 2050. To be on track with Vision Zero, the EU needs to do a lot more to end traffic fatalities.
“Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.”
How to Keep Reducing Fatalities
The study named the locations across the EU with the highest mortality rates. It was found that “52% of road traffic fatalities” occur on rural roads, making them the most dangerous in relation to their comparatively light traffic volume. Romania is the EU country with the highest traffic fatality rate, but rates are dramatically improving, with a significant 21% drop in traffic fatalities since 2019.
Most road deaths across the EU occur as a result of cars crashing into other cars. Other collisions with high mortality rates are cars and pedestrians, and cars and motorcyclists. These vulnerable road users have less protection in the event of collision with a vehicle, and as a result are more likely to sustain severe injuries or be killed.
“We call this suffering traffic “accidents” — but, in reality, we have the power to prevent traffic collisions”
Sweden is the EU country with the least deaths, reporting only 20 deaths per one million inhabitants, less than half the average in the EU. Another country low on the list of traffic fatalities is Denmark with 24 deaths per million inhabitants.
Further reducing road deaths is possible through cooperation of individuals, governments, and policymakers. Individuals can commit to driving more safely and defensively. Governments and policymakers can implement laws and more law enforcement to prevent collisions. This can look like anything from reducing speed limits to building bike lanes, and will be unique to each country’s needs and capabilities. But one thing is always true: stay alert and focused on driving every time you get behind the wheel.
Sources:
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