Ranking EU progress on road safety (report)

While remaining relatively safe in comparison to other European countries, this report highlights the disappointing progress made by the UK in reducing casualties since 2010.

The 14th Road Safety Performance Index Report, produced by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), compares statistics from 32 European countries – including the 27 EU member states.It shows that of the countries monitored, 16 recorded a year-on-year fall in road deaths in 2019 – with the ‘best results’ achieved by Luxembourg (39%), Sweden (32%) and Estonia (22%).

Looking at longer term trends, the report states that the EU, and its member states, will almost certainly miss their target to cut road deaths by half in the decade to 2020.

It highlights that since 2010, EU countries achieved an overall reduction in road deaths of 24%, which equates to a 2.7% annual average reduction

Meanwhile over that period, the UK* – described as one of Europe’s traditional leaders on road safety – is one of three countries where road fatalities have actually increased (by 1.1%), along with the Netherlands (3.3%) and Malta (6.7%).

However, at 29 road deaths per million inhabitants – the UK remains one of the safest European countries, behind Norway (20), Sweden (22) and Switzerland (22).

The 2020 ETSC Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Award – which recognises a nation that has demonstrated continued progress on road safety – was awarded to Estonia, in recognition of its 22% year-on-year reduction in fatalities.

Looking forward, the ETSC says it expects a significant drop in road deaths in 2020, as a result of Covid-19 lockdown policies.