While the bloc saw a general improvement in road safety throughout 2024, Romania reported 78 deaths per million inhabitants, significantly exceeding the EU average of 44 fatalities per million.

The data reveals a stark geographical divide in road safety across the Continent. While Romania, Bulgaria (74), and Greece (64) recorded the highest mortality rates, Northern European nations demonstrated the highest levels of safety. Sweden registered the lowest rate at 20 fatalities per million inhabitants, followed closely by Malta at 21 and Denmark at 24.

Across the EU, road traffic accidents claimed 19,934 lives in 2024, representing a 2.2% decrease from the 20,384 fatalities recorded in 2023. This marks the second consecutive year of decline for the bloc. Over a broader 10-year horizon, the number of persons killed in road accidents has fallen by 17.4% since 2014.

While fatality rates are highest in the East, the absolute volume of traffic accidents remains concentrated in the EU's largest economies. In 2024, the regions with the highest number of accidents were located in Germany, Italy, and Spain.