A new report from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) shows that the EU is significantly off track to meet its target of halving road deaths by 2030. At the midpoint of the decade, road deaths have fallen by just 15% compared with 2019, when a 31% reduction was needed to stay on course.
In 2025, around 19,500 people were killed on EU roads, and more than 100,000 were seriously injured. To reach the 2030 target, annual reductions now need to rise to around 10% a year, far above the current pace of progress. Last year, deaths fell by only 2%.
Progress varies widely across Europe
The PIN report covers 31 countries: the 27 EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Serbia. While overall progress is too slow, several countries show that substantial improvement is possible.
- Poland has achieved the largest reduction in road deaths since 2019, cutting fatalities by 43%.
- Belgium and Denmark have also delivered strong results, reducing deaths by 31% and 32%.
- Norway and Sweden remain the safest countries in the study, with 19 deaths per million inhabitants, compared with an EU average of 43.
- Denmark received the 2026 PIN Award for its long‑term road safety performance.
Persistent challenges
The report highlights areas where progress has stalled or reversed. The Netherlands now records more road deaths per million inhabitants than it did a decade ago, the only sizeable European country in this position. With some of the highest cycling levels in Europe, protecting vulnerable road users requires sustained and targeted action.
Serious injuries remain a major concern across the EU, with an estimated 100,000 people seriously injured each year.
Concerns about weakening safety standards
ETSC warns that several policy proposals could undermine existing safety gains. These include freezing safety requirements for a new class of small electric cars for a decade, exempting electric vans from speed limiters, and allowing more longer and heavier lorries to operate across borders. Trade discussions with the United States could also lead to the recognition of weaker US vehicle standards.
The European Commission’s own mid‑term review earlier this year reached a similar conclusion: progress is too slow, and the current policy framework may not be sufficient to deliver the 2030 target.
Recommendations
ETSC calls for coordinated action at both national and EU level. This includes full implementation of the Safe System approach, stronger enforcement, adequate funding for road safety, and faster collection of EU Key Performance Indicator data.
At EU level, ETSC urges policymakers to halt any weakening of vehicle safety rules, prepare stronger standards for the 2027 review, and recommend safe speed limits of 30 km/h in towns, 70 km/h on undivided rural roads, and no more than 120 km/h on motorways.
