The European Commission has 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, the report reveals that the current pace is insufficient.

19,940 people were killed on Europe’s roads in 2024. This represents a 12% decrease since 2019 but falls significantly short of the annual 4.6% reduction needed to meet the 2030 targets, as set in the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030. Road crashes continue to impose enormous costs on the EU economy, estimated at approximately 2% of gross domestic product, while up to 100,000 people sustain life-changing injuries each year.

Road safety is a shared responsibility between the EU and member states. While national and local authorities carry out most day-to-day actions, the EU also plays a key role in strengthening road safety across Europe. Recent EU initiatives include updated requirements for driving licences, better cross-border enforcement of traffic laws, and a comprehensive overhaul of the EU’s road safety and vehicle registration rules.

Today’s report presents more ambitious actions requiring coordinated efforts from EU institutions, member states, and local authorities. The Commission will take measures across five priority areas, including promoting 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.

“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 Sustainable Transport and Tourism Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas.