Deadly roads of the EU / The number of victims from accidents is increasing

2023-06-28 11:02:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

More than 19,917 people died in road accidents across the EU in 2021, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.

Deaths from road accidents in the EU rose by 6% after a decade of steady decline, the latest data shows, with some eastern European countries having the highest number of deaths per million inhabitants.

Just under 20,000 were killed on the block's roads in 2021 compared to 2020 figures of 18,834 – an unprecedented drop caused by the COVID restrictions affecting public transport.

The latest figure marks the end of the EU's continued decline in road deaths.

The overall figures show a significant decrease compared to 2011, when more than 28,000 people lost their lives in road traffic accidents.

The main contributors to the increase in the EU number were France, Germany and Italy – countries with some of the widest road networks and the most cars.

In terms of high rates, eastern member states Romania, Bulgaria and Latvia topped the count despite reducing the number of road deaths to below the 100 deaths per million threshold.

Malta had only 17 fatalities per million road accidents. Only Norway's figures (15 deaths per million) were lower than the small Mediterranean island.

Sweden and Denmark had some of the lowest death rates.

The European Union unveiled its plan to reform and standardize tests in an effort across the bloc to try and reduce road traffic deaths in March earlier this year.

The new proposal aims to set the legal age to take a driving test at 17 and introduce a two-year trial period for new license holders.

However, reforms must be accelerated to meet the EU's target of halving road accident deaths by 2030, says the Brussels-based European Transport Safety Council, which is dedicated to reducing transport deaths and injuries.

"It is now up to Member States and the European Parliament to ensure that this package is not watered down," the Council added.