The Commission remains committed to halving road accidents by 2030

The European Commission has published its report tracking progress towards the EU’s goal of halving the number of fatalities and serious injuries on the roads by 2030. While progress has been made in reducing the number of road traffic fatalities, the report reveals that the current pace is insufficient.

In 2024, 19,940 people died on European roads. This represents a 12% decrease since 2019, but is well below the 4.6% annual reduction needed to meet the 2030 targets set in the EU Road Safety Policy Framework for 2021-2030. Road accidents continue to impose enormous costs on the EU economy, estimated at approximately 2% of gross domestic product, and each year up to 100,000 people suffer life-altering injuries.

Road safety is a shared responsibility between the EU and Member States. While national and local authorities carry out most of the day-to-day actions, the EU also plays a key role in strengthening road safety across Europe. Recent EU initiatives include updating the requirements for driving licences, better ensuring cross-border enforcement of traffic legislation, and a comprehensive review of EU rules on road safety and vehicle registration.

Last February 16’s report presents more ambitious actions that require coordinated efforts by EU institutions, Member States and local authorities. The Commission will take action in five priority areas, including promoting the safety of infrastructure and intelligent transport systems; contributing to better enforcement of traffic rules and deterrence of bad road behaviour; advancing the deployment of vehicle safety technologies; addressing new forms of mobility; and prioritising road safety research.

Additional elements to be published on the MOVE website

The review recognises the persistence of behavioural risk factors (speeding, drink-driving, distractions and failure to wear seat belts), alongside systemic challenges such as insufficient enforcement capacity, limited funding and fragmented governance structures. New challenges have also emerged, such as the proliferation of electric scooters and personal mobility devices, demographic changes with an ageing population, and the gradual introduction of automated vehicles.

The report also highlights successful national interventions that demonstrate what can be achieved with political commitment and targeted investments. Poland, Lithuania and Slovenia have each achieved a 33-35% reduction in road traffic fatalities since 2019, putting them on track to meet the 2030 targets. Notable successes include Spain’s national 30 km/h speed limit in urban centres, France’s comprehensive network of automated traffic cameras, and Denmark’s evidence-based awareness campaigns.

The Commission also calls on Member States to ensure that road safety governance and coordination structures function effectively, provide adequate funding, and commit to regularly monitoring and reporting on progress. Following their first assessment of the safety of road networks, Member States are asked to implement a systematic programme to eliminate black spots. Local and regional authorities are asked to adopt comprehensive approaches that integrate safety into land use and transport planning, provide adequate infrastructure for vulnerable road users, and develop their emergency response capacity.

Next steps

The Commission will work closely with Member States and provide increased technical and financial support in the context of the next multiannual financial framework. Regular monitoring through the CARE database and the European Road Safety Observatory will provide insight into progress towards the 2030 targets and, ultimately, Vision Zero: the elimination of road deaths by 2050.

More information: European Commission