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Three percent fewer people killed in traffic accidents across the EU

by AI | 28.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

In Austria, according to EU estimates, 13 percent fewer people died in traffic accidents in 2024 compared to 2023.

Archive photo - Fewer people are dying in traffic across the EU.

Brussels – According to the EU Commission, 2024 saw a three percent decrease in traffic fatalities compared to the previous year. That means 600 fewer lost lives. The Commission released preliminary figures on traffic deaths for the previous year in Brussels. In Austria, 2024 saw 13 percent fewer deaths compared to 2023. Across the entire EU, approximately 19,800 people lost their lives in traffic last year.

Although the number of traffic deaths decreased by three percent in 2024, more significantly than the one percent decrease in 2023, the EU Commission states that this is still too slow. Most member states are not on track to meet the EU goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030. Compared to the base year of 2019, 13 percent fewer people died in traffic in 2023. Over the past five years, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy have only seen a slight decrease in traffic fatalities, while Ireland and Estonia have experienced an increase.

Swedish and Danish roads are the safest

The ranking of the safest countries with the fewest traffic deaths per capita has been relatively stable for several years. The safest roads remain in Sweden (20 deaths per one million inhabitants) and Denmark (24/million). According to the Commission, Romania (77/million) and Bulgaria (74/million), which continue to be among the countries with the highest death rates, have made significant progress in reducing traffic deaths in 2023 and achieved a decline of over a fifth since 2019. The EU average is 44 traffic deaths per million inhabitants. Austria is slightly below this with 38/million.

Country roads continue to pose the greatest risk: 52 percent of traffic deaths occur on these roads. The majority of traffic fatalities (77 percent) are men, with older adults (65+) and young people (18-24) being particularly at risk. Car occupants make up the largest share of fatalities, followed by motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists. In cities, so-called unprotected road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, account for nearly 70 percent of traffic deaths. (18.03.2025)