News

In 2023, 20,400 people lost their lives in road crashes across the EU, marking a 1% decrease from the previous year, with 46 road deaths per million inhabitants.

Protective equipment such as helmets, seatbelts and child restraint systems have been shown to be very effective in protecting road users from death or serious injury.

Today, the Commission is publishing preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2023. Around 20,400 people were killed in road crashes in the EU last year, a small 1% decrease on 2022.

Driver distraction is a significant risk factor in traffic.

The Commission is hosting the 2023 Excellence in Road Safety Awards. The awards recognise the best contributions by the European Road Safety Charter's community of organisations, authorities and companies towards safer roads across Europe.

The 20,640 deaths on EU roads last year represented a 4% increase in relation to 2021, as traffic levels recovered after the pandemic.

The EU-funded Road Safety Exchange project, celebrated as a catalyst for life-saving initiatives across Europe, is poised for expansion, encompassing 19 countries in its mission to fast-track road safety improvements.

Drivers who have been drinking are 15 times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than sober drivers. This is among the statistics presented in the European Road Safety Observatory’s new thematic report on driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The High-Level Group on Road Safety of the European Union has met in Madrid today, with the aim of analysing several of the challenges that affect road safety, and assessing EU and national strategies.