European Commission — 2026-02-16
News from Brussels
The European Commission published its report to track progress towards the EU's goal of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030. While progress has been made in reducing road fatalities, it reveals that the current pace is insufficient.
19,940 people were killed on Europe's roads in 2024, representing a 12% decrease since 2019 but falling significantly short of the annual 4.6% reduction needed to meet 2030 targets. Road crashes continue to impose enormous costs on the EU economy, estimated at approximately 2% of GDP, while up to 100,000 people sustain life-changing injuries each year.
"Every road death is a tragedy. While we have made important progress, we must accelerate our efforts and act faster and with greater determination. The actions we are setting out today will support Member States in saving thousands of lives, reducing the heavy economic and social costs of road crashes, and ensuring that Europe remains a global leader in automotive safety and innovation", said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
The report presents an ambitious set of actions requiring coordinated efforts from EU institutions, Member States, and local authorities to accelerate life-saving interventions. The Commission will take measures across five priority areas, including infrastructure safety and intelligent transport systems; helping to strengthen enforcement of road traffic rules and deterrence of poor road behaviour; advancing with the deployment of vehicle safety technologies; addressing new forms of mobility; and prioritising road safety research.
The Communication reviews the implementation of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 at its halfway point. The review recognises persistent behavioural risk factors – excessive speed, drink-driving, distraction, and failure to wear seatbelts – alongside systemic challenges including insufficient enforcement capacity, limited funding, and fragmented governance structures. New challenges have also emerged, including the proliferation of e-scooters and personal mobility devices, demographic changes with an ageing population, and the gradual introduction of automated vehicles.
The report also highlights successful national interventions that demonstrate what can be achieved with political commitment and targeted investment. Poland, Lithuania, and Slovenia have each achieved 33-35% reductions in road fatalities since 2019, putting them on track to meet 2030 targets. Notable successes include Spain's national 30 km/h speed limit in urban centres, France's comprehensive automated traffic camera network, and Denmark's evidence-based awareness campaigns.
The Commission further calls on Member States to ensure well-functioning road safety governance and coordination structures, deliver adequate funding, and commit to regular monitoring and reporting of progress. Following their first safety assessment of road networks, Member States are called to implement a systematic programme eliminating black spots. Local and regional authorities are called upon to adopt comprehensive approaches integrating safety into land use and transport planning, provide adequate infrastructure for vulnerable road users; and develop emergency response capabilities.
Next steps
The Commission will work closely with Member States and provide enhanced technical and financial support in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Regular monitoring through the CARE database and European Road Safety Observatory will track progress towards the 2030 goals and ultimately Vision Zero - the elimination of road deaths - by 2050.
Background
Road safety is a shared responsibility between the EU and Member States. While national and local authorities deliver most day-to-day actions, the EU contributes with safety rules for infrastructure and vehicles and for driving testing and licencing, coordinates cross-border cooperation between authorities and efforts to exchange best practices, and funds road safety projects. Recent EU-level initiatives tackling road safety include updated requirements for driving licences and better cross-border enforcement of road traffic rules and a proposal to enhance the roadworthiness of vehicles. Road safety has also been a core element of recent EU mobility policy initiatives, including the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the new TEN-T Regulation and the Urban Mobility Framework and the European Declaration on Cycling.