Preliminary figures released by the European Commission indicate a 3% decrease in road fatalities across the EU in 2025, with approximately 19,400 deaths. This translates to 580 fewer lives lost compared to the previous year, a notable achievement given the rise in vehicles and kilometers driven. However, the data also reveals that most member states are not on track to meet the ambitious goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
The overall decrease in road deaths is a positive sign, with Estonia and Greece showing remarkable improvements between 2024 and 2025, with reductions of 38% and 22% respectively. Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, and Romania are currently projected to meet the 2030 target. Despite this progress, countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia still report some of the highest fatality rates in the EU.
Sweden and Denmark once again led the way with the safest roads, recording 20 and 23 deaths per million inhabitants in 2025. Conversely, Iceland, Malta, and Ireland saw increases in road deaths between 2024 and 2025.
Data from 2024 highlights that rural roads continue to be the most perilous, accounting for 53% of all road traffic fatalities. Urban areas contribute 38%, while motorways account for 8%. Within cities, vulnerable road users – including pedestrians, cyclists, and users of personal mobility devices like e-scooters – represent 70% of total road deaths. Crashes involving cars and lorries are the primary cause of fatalities in urban settings.
Men (77%) are disproportionately represented in road death statistics compared to women (23%). Car drivers and passengers made up 44% of fatalities, followed by users of powered two-wheelers (21%), pedestrians (18%), and cyclists (9%). While fatalities involving personal mobility devices are currently low (1%), their numbers have seen a significant increase between 2021 and 2024.
The EU’s “Vision Zero” strategy, established in 2018, aims to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and achieve zero fatalities by 2050. While the recent figures show progress, the current pace is insufficient to meet the 2030 goal. The European Commission emphasizes that road safety is a shared responsibility, requiring sustained efforts from all member states, industry, and road users to enhance infrastructure, enforce traffic rules, and promote safer driving behaviors.