EU road deaths fall in 2025, but progress towards 2030 target remains too slow
The latest European road safety figures offer an overview of progress towards the EU’s 2030 targets, while highlighting the challenges that remain in making roads safer for everyone.
The European Commission has published its final road safety statistics for 2025. The figures record 19,350 road deaths across the EU. This is a 3% decrease compared with 2024, which corresponds to 580 lives, and a 15% decrease since 2019.
While this reduction marks continued progress, the Commission warns that most Member States are not on track, as they are falling behind the EU target to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
The Commission’s Report on the Implementation of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework at the Mid-Point provides further policy context. It assesses progress towards the EU’s road safety objectives and highlights where further action is needed.
Five Member States on track to meet the 2030 target
Only five Member States are currently on track to halve road deaths by 2030—Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, and Romania. The remaining countries need to accelerate their efforts to meet the target.
The EU aims to reduce annual road deaths to around 11,400 by 2030. With 19,350 fatalities recorded in 2025, the gap remains substantial, so faster and sustained action is needed.
Road fatalities in the EU, 2001–2025, and the target for 2030 — Credit: EU Commission based on EU CARE database and national sources
Vulnerable road users remain at risk
The overall figures do not tell the whole story. Different road users face different levels of risk, as older people, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are particularly exposed.
The European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO) provides further insight through its thematic reports. These cover pedestrians, cyclists, personal mobility devices, seniors, and speed and speeding, and examine specific risks and measures to improve road safety.
What emerges from the reports is that urban areas are particularly dangerous. In 2024, 7,640 people died in road crashes in EU urban areas. Pedestrians accounted for the largest share, with 2,533 fatalities. Car occupants followed, with 1,911 deaths; motorcyclists, 1,362 fatalities, while 1,040 cyclists lost their lives. The figures also include 114 e-scooter riders.
Road traffic fatalities in EU urban areas in 2024, by road-user type and collision counterpart — Credit: European Commission
Regarding vulnerable road users, the ERSO report on pedestrians highlights the importance of safe routes and accessible street design, while also examining how traffic speeds and urban planning influence pedestrian safety.
Similarly, cyclist safety remains a particular challenge. According to the ERSO report on cyclists, cyclists are the only EU road-user group whose fatalities have not significantly declined over the past decade. Around 1,950 cyclists died in the EU in 2023, and around 70% of fatal cyclist crashes involved motor vehicles.
These figures underline the need to make streets safer for everyone, particularly pedestrians and cyclists, who have less physical protection than motorised vehicles in a collision. Addressing these risks goes beyond just creating dedicated cycling infrastructure; it also involves implementing protected cycle lanes, designing safer intersections, and maintaining appropriate vehicle speeds to reduce conflicts between cyclists and motor traffic.
These issues were central to the recent joint Working Group meeting on Safety and Security and Health Working Group in Berlin. The discussions explored how street design can contribute to safer environments, including around schools, and the role of cycling infrastructure in protecting vulnerable road users. The exchange reflects the importance of translating road safety evidence into practical changes to street design and management.
E-scooters bring new road safety challenges
Personal mobility devices, particularly e-scooters, have become an increasingly visible part of urban transport. They offer a convenient option for short journeys and can help address the first- and last-mile connections to public transport.
However, their growing use also creates new challenges for road safety and public space management. The ERSO thematic report on personal mobility devices highlights the risks associated with e-scooter use. Falls are a common cause of crashes, with head injuries among the most frequently reported consequences. Fractures to the arms and legs, as well as injuries to the face and neck, are also common. Helmet use could help reduce the risk of head injuries, although wearing rates remain low.
The report also highlights a striking contrast in crash patterns. One study cited by ERSO found that almost 93% of reported e-scooter-related injuries involved crashes with no other road user. However, collisions with motor vehicles account for more than 80% of e-scooter fatalities. This underlines the importance of preventing conflicts between e-scooters and heavier vehicles, even if such collisions represent a smaller share of reported injuries. Infrastructure and vehicle design are both part of the response. The report stresses the need for cycle paths wide enough to accommodate different users safely, adequate lighting, and designated e-scooter parking.
Safer streets for an ageing population
Older people face particular risks on the road. People aged 65 and over accounted for 28% of EU road fatalities in 2023. This share has increased from 17% in 1992. Almost half of senior pedestrian and cyclist fatalities involved people aged 65 and over, with people over 75 facing the highest risk. They are particularly vulnerable when walking or cycling.
The Report on seniors highlights the importance of accessible and predictable street design. Clear junctions, sufficient crossing times, and safe walking routes can make a difference. These improvements also benefit children, people with disabilities, and other road users.
Speed management can save lives
Speed is another major factor in road safety. Their Report on speed and speeding estimates that excessive or inappropriate speed contributes directly to 10-15% of all crashes. It also contributes to around 80% of fatal crashes.
The impact on pedestrians is particularly severe. A pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 30 km/h has a 90% chance of survival. At 50 km/h, this falls to just 20%. Lower speed limits can also improve safety across entire urban areas. An evaluation of city-wide 30 km/h limits in 17 European cities found an average 37% reduction in road fatalities. Lower speeds also bring wider benefits. They support walking and cycling, reduce traffic noise and can lower emissions.
Turning road safety progress into lasting change
The 2025 figures show that road deaths are falling across the EU. However, progress remains too slow to meet the 2030 target. The challenge also extends beyond fatalities. The Commission estimates that five people sustain serious injuries for every road death. Around 100,000 people are seriously injured on EU roads each year.
The latest figures reinforce the need to keep road safety a priority in the transition to more sustainable urban mobility. At POLIS, this commitment is reflected in our work with cities and regions, as well as in the New Paradigm for Safe City Streets. As Europe works towards its 2030 road safety targets, this shared commitment remains essential. Reducing road fatalities requires more than incremental improvements: it calls for a continued focus on the safety of all road users and on creating streets where people can move safely, whatever their age or mode of transport.
