The European Commission released preliminary figures for road fatalities in 2024, reporting a decrease of 3%, equating to approximately 600 fewer deaths compared to the previous year. While the reduction is a positive step, experts warn that the pace of progress remains too slow, with most Member States still off track to meet the EU’s goal of halving road deaths by 2030.
The EU-wide decrease in road fatalities represents around 600 fewer deaths, but the average hides significant differences between Member States. Countries such as Greece, Spain, France, and Italy have seen only slight reductions over the past five years, while road deaths have risen in Ireland and Estonia, though smaller countries tend to experience annual fluctuations. On the other hand, Bulgaria, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia are on track to meet the target of a 50% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Romania, which has seen a significant 21% decrease in fatalities since 2019, still holds the highest fatality rate in the EU.
Fatalities
The overall fatality ranking has remained largely unchanged, with Sweden (20 deaths per million inhabitants) and Denmark (24 deaths per million) maintaining the safest roads. Meanwhile, Bulgaria (74 deaths per million) and Romania (77 deaths per million) reported the highest fatality rates in 2024. The EU average stands at 44 road deaths per million inhabitants. Between 2019 and 2023, there were around 1,000 fewer fatalities in cars and 900 fewer pedestrian deaths. However, the reduction in fatalities for motorcyclists and cyclists was less significant, with a decrease of under 100 for each group. For every fatality, an estimated five individuals are seriously injured, equating to approximately 100,000 serious injuries annually in the EU. Police data indicates that the downward trend in serious injuries aligns with the decrease in fatalities, though notable differences exist between countries.
Groups
Rural roads continue to be the most dangerous, with 52% of road traffic fatalities occurring in these areas, compared to 38% in urban zones and 9% on motorways. Men represent 77% of all road deaths, while older people (aged 65 and over) accounted for 31% of fatalities, a significant increase from 28% in 2019. This age group comprises only 21% of the population. Conversely, young people aged 18-24 accounted for 12% of road deaths, despite making up just 7% of the population. Car occupants (drivers and passengers) represented 44% of all fatalities, with powered two-wheeler users (motorbikes and mopeds) accounting for 20%, pedestrians 18%, and cyclists 10%. The crash risk for powered two-wheelers is particularly high, with passenger kilometers driven in cars being up to 35 times greater than those for powered two-wheelers. In urban areas, vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and users of powered two-wheelers and personal mobility devices—represent almost 70% of total fatalities. These deaths overwhelmingly occur in crashes involving cars and lorries, highlighting the need to improve protection for these vulnerable groups.
Future
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, stated, “While the 3% reduction in road fatalities is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. Too many lives are still lost on our roads every year. We must accelerate efforts to improve road safety, particularly for vulnerable road users and in high-risk areas like rural roads. Every death is one too many, and we remain committed to achieving our Vision Zero goal.”