Europe – The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has announced that Serbia tops the list of the most dangerous European countries for driving, with 78 road traffic fatalities per million inhabitants in 2024. This surpasses Bulgaria, which held the top spot last year.
Romania and Bulgaria came in second and third place, respectively, with 77 and 74 deaths per million inhabitants. Greece and Croatia completed the list of the five most dangerous countries, with 64 and 62 deaths per million inhabitants, respectively. Croatia showed a marked improvement compared to the previous year, while Greece experienced an increase in its death rate compared to 2023.
Other countries with high road fatality rates include Portugal (60 deaths per million), Italy (51 deaths), and Spain (36 deaths).
On the other hand, Norway maintained its title as the safest country to drive in Europe with a rate of 16 deaths per million inhabitants. Sweden followed with 20 deaths, and Malta with 21 deaths per million inhabitants.
The study indicates that the Balkans and Eastern Europe still face significant challenges in road safety, while Scandinavia is considered a model in this area.
A report from the International Transport Forum completed the analysis, confirming that excessive speed in Greece is responsible for approximately 18% of road fatalities. It also stated that strict enforcement of speed limits, such as through cameras and checkpoints, reduces fatal accidents. The study further indicated that a 5% increase in speed can raise the risk of an accident by 10%, and the risk of a fatal accident by 20%.
