Traffic death 25,100 in EU 2018

The number of road deaths in the European Union fell by 200 last year, to 25,100. The decrease is the same as the year before. The number of seriously injured remained approximately the same at 135,000. The European Commission announced this on Thursday.

EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc called the number of victims “clearly unacceptable”. It is sticking to zero traffic deaths in 2050. “I think that is possible,” she says. The 2010 target of halving the number of victims in ten years is not being achieved. The decline in eight years is only 21 percent.

The United Kingdom had the least number of deaths per million inhabitants: 28. Denmark followed with 30 and Ireland with 31 deaths per million inhabitants. The EU average was 49.

In the Netherlands there were 31 per million inhabitants in 2017, but figures for 2018 are not yet available. Statistics Netherlands presents this on 18 April.

In Slovenia, the number of casualties decreased by 13 percent, in Lithuania by 11 and in Bulgaria by 9 percent. Relatively most traffic fatalities were in Romania, with 96 per million inhabitants, 8 more than in Bulgaria.

With her pursuit of zero road deaths, Mrs. Bulc has at least stuck Volvo in her camp. In fact, the brand has set the bar much higher, or better, in the past.