The European Commission has released preliminary data on road fatalities for 2024, revealing a 3% decrease compared to the previous year, equivalent to around 600 fewer deaths. While this marks a positive development, it is still considered insufficient, and progress towards the European Union's target of halving road deaths by 2030 remains too slow and uneven across member states. The European average conceals significant differences: while countries such as Bulgaria, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia appear to be on track to meet the end-of-decade target, others show only modest improvements or even a worsening of the situation. This is the case, for instance, in Ireland and Estonia, where the number of fatalities has increased, albeit with the fluctuations typically seen in countries with smaller populations.
In Italy, as in Greece, Spain and France, improvements have been minimal over the past five years. Romania, on the other hand, stands out with a 21% reduction in deaths since 2019—an important result, though not enough to lift the country from its negative record of the highest road mortality rate in the EU, with 77 deaths per million inhabitants. Among EU countries, Sweden (20 deaths per million) and Denmark (24) remain at the top in terms of road safety. At the opposite end, alongside Romania, is Bulgaria with 74 deaths per million. The EU average stands at 44.
Between 2019 and 2023, around 1,000 fewer fatalities were recorded among car occupants and 900 among pedestrians. Reductions were less significant among motorcyclists and cyclists, with declines in both categories remaining below 100. In addition to these figures, estimates on serious injuries indicate that for every death, at least five people sustain serious injuries—roughly 100,000 per year. Data from law enforcement also suggest that serious injuries are declining, although trends vary widely from country to country.
The picture also changes depending on the area: rural roads remain the most dangerous, accounting for 52% of total fatalities, compared to 38% in urban areas and 9% on motorways. Men account for 77% of road deaths, while older adults (over 65), though making up only 21% of the population, represent 31% of fatalities, up from 28% in 2019. Young people aged 18 to 24 are involved in 12% of deaths, compared to 7% of the population. In terms of vehicles involved, 44% of victims were drivers or passengers in cars, followed by motorcyclists (20%), pedestrians (18%) and cyclists (10%).
In urban areas, vulnerable users—pedestrians, cyclists, riders of motorcycles and personal mobility devices—account for nearly 70% of total fatalities. In most cases, deaths occur in collisions with cars or heavy vehicles, highlighting the urgent need to better protect these groups. Particularly concerning is the risk associated with motorcycles: although the number of kilometres travelled by car passengers is up to 35 times higher than that of motorcyclists, the mortality rate for the latter remains significantly higher.
“A 3% reduction is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. Too many lives are still being lost on our roads every year,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. “We must accelerate efforts to improve road safety, especially for vulnerable users and in high-risk areas such as rural roads. Every death is one too many, and we remain committed to achieving our Vision Zero goal.”
