A modest but meaningful improvement in road safety was recorded across the European Union in 2024, as new data shows a continued decline in traffic-related deaths. According

to figures released by Eurostat, 19,934 people lost their lives on EU roads last year — a 2.2% drop compared with 2023, when fatalities stood at 20,384. This marks the second consecutive year of declining deaths, suggesting a slow but steady recovery in road safety outcomes.

On average, the EU recorded 44 road deaths per million inhabitants, though the picture varies sharply between countries. Sweden remains the safest country for road users, with just 20 fatalities per million people. Malta and Denmark also reported low rates, at 21 and 24 respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, Romania recorded the highest fatality rate at 78 per million, followed by Bulgaria (74) and Greece (64), highlighting persistent regional disparities.

The longer-term trend points to significant progress. Over the past decade, road deaths across the EU have fallen by 17.4%. While the overall trajectory has been downward, the period was not without setbacks. Slight increases were observed in 2015, as well as in 2021 and 2022 — the latter years reflecting a rebound from unusually low traffic levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional data further underscores where road safety challenges remain most acute. In 2024, the highest numbers of traffic accidents were concentrated in Germany, Italy and Spain. Germany’s Nordrhein-Westfalen region recorded the largest figure, with 62,741 accidents — the only region exceeding 60,000 incidents. It was followed by Bayern in Germany (49,374) and Nord-Ovest in Italy (48,815).

While the latest figures indicate progress, the uneven distribution of fatalities across the bloc suggests that targeted safety measures remain essential, particularly in countries where road risks are still significantly higher. Photo by Holger.Ellgaard, Wikimedia commons.