Southeast Europe has the most dangerous roads in the EU, with road mortality rates more than double the European average.

Brussels, November 14 — The European Union recorded an average of 46 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2023, according to data published by Eurostat. The analysis by regions shows significant differences across the EU, with much higher values in Southeast Europe, where the highest rates of road mortality in the Union are concentrated. Romania is among the member states with regions in the highest risk category.

According to Eurostat, 123 of the 234 NUTS 2 regions of the EU (52.6%) reported rates above the European average, seven regions had exactly the average of 46 deaths, and 104 regions recorded values below average. The differences between regions are significant, and the highest values are almost exclusively in the southeast of the Union.

In 2023, seven European regions reported at least 100 deaths per million inhabitants, more than twice the EU average. The highest rate was recorded in Severozapaden (Bulgaria), with 166 deaths, followed by Ionia Nisia (Greece) with 120, Notio Aigaio (Greece) with 119, and Guyane (France) with 117. Other regions in this category are Severen tsentralen (Bulgaria), with 107 deaths, Sud-Vest Oltenia (Romania), with 107, and Sud-Est (Romania), with 102.

These seven regions represent the highest values recorded in the EU in 2023 and are located either in the southeast of the Union or in outermost territories. Eurostat does not provide explanations regarding the causes of the differences between regions in this report.

Romania appears among the member states with two regions situated in the category with the highest road mortality rates. Sud-Vest Oltenia recorded 107 deaths per million inhabitants, and Sud-Est reported 102 deaths — both values exceeding more than twice the European average. For the other regions of Romania, the Eurostat report does not include additional details.

On the opposite end, Brussels-Capital (Belgium) reported the lowest road mortality rate in the EU, with 5 deaths per million inhabitants. Other regions with very low values include Vienna (Austria), with 6 deaths, and Berlin (Germany), with 9. In total, 26 EU regions had fewer than 25 deaths/million, and two regions, Åland (Finland) and Ciudad de Melilla (Spain), reported no road deaths in 2023.

The publication of this data takes place ahead of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, marked annually on November 17, which brings to the public's attention the victims of road accidents and the efforts needed to improve road safety in the EU.

https://2eu.brussels/articol/stiri/europa-de-sud-est-are-cele-mai-periculoase-drumuri-din-ue-cu-rate-ale-mortalitatii-rutiere-de-peste-dublul-mediei-europene