The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has released its 19th annual Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Report, sounding a clear alarm: the European Union remains significantly off track to meet its target of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
According to the report the broader European picture remains troubling. In 2024, road deaths across the EU27 fell by just 2% compared to 2023. Since the 2019 baseline year, the total reduction stands at only 12%—well below the 27% needed by this point to remain on track for the 2030 target of a 50% reduction. Some standout performers include Lithuania with a 35% reduction since 2019 and the only country to halve road deaths over the past decade. Achievements are to be highlighted also in Belgium, Poland, and Slovenia – all reporting reductions exceeding 25%.
Downturn
However, the situation is worsening in parts of Europe. Eight countries, including Switzerland and Estonia, recorded an increase in road deaths in 2024. Overall, 20,017 people lost their lives on EU roads last year, and serious injury reductions continue to lag behind. The report estimates that 23,800 lives have been saved since 2014 thanks to road safety improvements – equivalent to a societal benefit of €60 billion. But had the EU achieved the necessary 6.7% annual reduction rate, 49,600 additional lives could have been spared, with an economic value of €124 billion.
Champion
Amidst the sobering news, Norway has once again emerged as a beacon of progress and leadership. The country has been awarded the prestigious 2025 PIN Award in recognition of its sustained commitment to road safety and remarkable success in reducing fatalities on the road. In 2024, Norway reported just 16 road deaths per million inhabitants – the lowest rate among the 32 countries monitored by the ETSC PIN programme. “Norway continues to show what’s possible when a country commits to road safety at every level – from government strategy to local planning,” said Antonio Avenoso, ETSC Executive Director. “Their results are no accident; they’re the product of clear targets, rigorous implementation, and national ambition.”
Urgency
The ETSC is urging both EU institutions and national governments to reaffirm their commitment to the Safe System approach – a strategy that recognises human error as inevitable and designs transport systems to prevent death and serious injury. “We know what works. The real challenge is political will. Without bold national and EU-level action, thousands more lives will be lost unnecessarily“, said Avenoso.