Death toll on European roads still lower than before corona | Inland

According to these figures, approximately 19,800 people were killed in road accidents in the European Union in 2021. Compared to 2020, when unprecedented lockdowns resulted in much less traffic, the number of fatalities rose again by 5 percent, but the number was still 13 percent lower than in 2019.

Belgium is one of the Member States where the decline has remained the most pronounced compared to the last pre-corona year. Last year, our country regretted 43 casualties per one million inhabitants, 23 percent less than in 2019 and stable compared to 2020. Last year, nine other Member States registered their lowest number of traffic casualties ever.

“Covid-19 has changed some work practices forever, and that may have resulted in a one-off road safety bonus as some people continue to telecommute and travel less. But the number of deaths will rise again without sustained efforts to make our roads safer,” said Antonio Avenoso, director of the NGO European Road Safety Council (ETSC).

ETSC demands more action against excessive speed. Avenoso referred to the tragedy in Strépy, where six carnivalists were killed more than a week ago. “Sweden has 100 times more speed cameras per million inhabitants than the Czech Republic. Without highly visible and regular enforcement, some drivers will continue to speed with impunity and destroy lives.”

With 18 deaths per one million inhabitants, Sweden remained the safest Member State for road users last year. Romania’s roads remained the most dangerous, with 93 casualties per million inhabitants. The European average was 44 fatalities per million inhabitants.

The European Union has set itself the target of halving the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. In the past decade, the number dropped by 36 percent.