Fatal road accidents in Europe increase in 2021. 19,800 people lost their lives
According to preliminary data released by the European Commission, 19,800 people lost their lives on the streets of European Union countries in 2021, 1,000 more (+ 5%) compared to 2020 and 3,000 less (-13%) in comparison with 2019 , the year before the coronary heart disease.
The EU has set a goal of reducing by 50% the number of people who die on its streets by 2030 and the last decade has seen a drop of 36%. The ultimate goal is to have zero road deaths by 2050.
There were a total of 44 road deaths per million inhabitants in the EU last year, up from 42 in 2020, 51 in 2019 and 67 in 2010, which means that Europe remains the safest continent in the world, with a corresponding global average exceeds 180 deaths.
The reduction in road deaths in the EU last year was not uniform. The largest reductions were recorded in Denmark (-17%), Germany (-6%). Estonia (-7%), Ireland (-6%), Cyprus (-8%), Lithuania (-17%), Malta (-18%), Poland (-10%), Portugal (-3%), Sweden (-6%), Switzerland (-12%) and Norway (-5%).
In contrast, 14 Member States recorded an increase in the number of deaths and two recorded the same number compared to 2020, Belgium (43 deaths from road accidents per million inhabitants) and Finland (40). Bulgaria increased by 21%, Czech Republic 3%, Greece 5%, Spain 10%, France 16%, Croatia 23%, Italy 19%, Latvia 6%, Hungary 18%, Austria 4 %, Romania 8%, Slovenia 43%, Slovakia 5% and Iceland 13%.
Deaths from road accidents per one million inhabitants
The safest roads are still in Sweden (18 deaths per million inhabitants in 2020), while Romania (93 deaths per million inhabitants) recorded the highest rate in 2021.
Compared to 2019, deaths from road accidents in 2021 decreased by 13% with the largest reductions of more than 20% occurring in Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Poland and Lithuania. By contrast, Latvia, Slovenia and Finland, on the other hand, have seen an increase in the number of road accident deaths over the last two years.
Of all fatalities on EU roads, 52% occurred on rural roads, compared with 40% in urban areas and 8% on motorways. Car passengers (drivers and passengers) accounted for 43% of all road accident deaths, while pedestrians accounted for 20%, electric scooters (motorcycles and mopeds) for 18% and cyclists for 10% of total deaths.
In urban areas, the pattern is very different, with pedestrians (37%) representing the largest share of victims. Electric motorcycle users account for 18% and an increasing number of cyclists (14%) being killed, which means that almost 70% of all urban deaths are vulnerable road users.
Men are responsible for 3 in 4 deaths from road accidents (77%). The elderly (65+) accounted for more than a quarter (28%) of all deaths, although proportionately more young people are killed on the streets. While 12% of EU road deaths were between the ages of 18 and 24, this age group represents only 7% of the EU population. Therefore, statistics show that young people are more likely to be involved in fatal road accidents conflict.