The European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO) has published its 2026 Annual Statistical Report on Road Safety in the European Union, providing a comprehensive overview of road safety performance across Europe and reviewing progress towards the EU target of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
According to the latest validated data, around 19,400 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2025, a 3% decrease from 2024. While this confirms a positive long-term trend, the reduction remains well below the trajectory required to meet the 2030 target. Road crashes also continue to impose a major societal burden, with economic costs estimated at around 2% of EU GDP and approximately 100,000 people seriously injured every year.
The report identifies the main challenges that continue to hinder progress, including excessive speed, drink-driving, driver distraction, and the non-use of seat belts. It also highlights emerging issues such as the increasing use of personal mobility devices, demographic ageing, and the gradual deployment of automated vehicles. To accelerate progress towards Vision Zero, the European Commission calls for stronger action in five priority areas: safer infrastructure, improved enforcement of traffic rules, wider deployment of vehicle safety technologies, safer integration of new mobility solutions, and increased investment in road safety research.
Road safety progress varies widely by country. Between 2024 and 2025, there were remarkable decreases in Estonia (-38%) and Greece (-22%). Based on this preliminary and sometimes partial data, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland and Romania are currently on track to meet the 50% reduction target in road deaths by 2030. Despite this progress, Romania continues to have one of the highest fatality rates in the EU alongside Bulgaria and Croatia. Sweden and Denmark had the safest roads in 2025 as in previous years, with low fatality rates of 20 and 23 deaths per million inhabitants, respectively.
Although encouraging, these figures confirm that additional efforts will be needed if Europe is to remain on track towards its Vision Zero ambition by 2050.
