Road safety in the EU has improved significantly over the past decades, thanks to strong and effective action taken at EU, national and local level to address road user behaviour, vehicles and infrastructure. As a result the EU roads are the safest world-wide.

This increased safety can to a large extent be attributed to EU legislative requirements on safety of vehicles that have been introduced over these years as part of the EU policy on road safety. These vehicle safety requirements were also a boost to European research, development and innovation: when industry was faced with more ambitious requirements it found the ways to respond with innovative technical solutions.

Road safety (2019 - 2020)

Between 1991 and 2017, and especially after 2000, the EU witnessed substantial improvements in terms of road safety, whether measured in terms of fatalities, accidents or injuries.&nbsp; Over a shorter period, between 2001 and 2010, the number of deaths on EU roads decreased by 43 %, and by around another 20 % since 2010.The most recent figures, however, show that progress in reducing the fatality rate is stagnating.

Specific road users or demographic groups are not witnessing the same improvements as the rest of the population.&nbsp;Despite being the safest region in the world, and despite sustained efforts to tackle road safety,&nbsp;around 22 700 people die on EU roads annually, with around 120 000 seriously injured.&nbsp;

Road safety is a shared competence, implying that many measures are primarily dealt with by Member States. However, the EU, has&nbsp;significantly developed the acquis in this area, with the Commission adopting several policy frameworks on road safety.

In 2003, the EU set itself a target in terms of reducing road fatalities, and regularly monitors progress towards this goal. In June 2017, the Council endorsed the Valletta Declaration, which reasserted commitments and targets in the area of road safety. In May 2018, within the context of the third and last 'mobility package', the Commission presented a common framework for road safety for the 2021-2030 period, recalling the EU’s long-term goal of moving as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050 ('Vision Zero').

The European Parliament has adopted numerous resolutions regarding or covering road safety, calling notably for more detailed and measurable targets, more account taken of vulnerable users as well as of the safety challenges emerging from the development of connected and automated mobility.

Road safety

Press conference - Driving licence rules

Press conference on The review of EU driving licence rules

SOS system in car that can call the emergency services in the event of an accident

eCall emergency button in vehicle

The eCall emergency button in a car

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks for drivers. A press conference with the rapporteur will take place at 14.30 after the vote. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), rapporteur on The review of EU driving license rules

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks for drivers. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Directive on Driving Licenses: extracts from the debate

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate and vote (on Wednesday) on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks.

Debate: Driving licences: MEPs debate

Debate: Driving licences: Closing statements by Karima DELLI, Rapporteur, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate and vote on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks. Opening statements by Karima DELLI, Rapporteur, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Debate: Driving licences: Opening statements by Karima DELLI, Rapporteur, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

To achieve a goal of zero deaths on EU roads by 2050, MEPs debate on a draft resolution. Around 22 700 people die on EU roads annually, with around 120 000 seriously injured. To remedy this situation, MEPs call for more investments in safer roads, a speed limit of 30km/h in residential areas and areas where there are high numbers of cyclists and pedestrians, as well as for zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving. Statement by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL), rapporteur, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the vote

EU Road Safety: statement by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL), rapporteur, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the vote

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero". Closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero": closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero".

EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero": MEPs debate

"EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030" - This infoclip illustrates police controls, alcohool and drugs tests, motordrivers, pedestrians and bikers. It also illustrates traffic on highways and 30km/h signs.The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted an own-initiative report by Elena KOUNTOURA (GUE/NGL, EL) on the EU road safety policy framework 2021-2030 - Recommendations on the next steps towards ‘Vision Zero’.Every year around 22 700 people still lose their lives on EU roads and around 120 000 are seriously injured. More than 11 800 children and youngsters up to the age of 17 have been killed in road traffic collisions in the EU over the last 10 years. Progress in reducing EU fatality rates has stagnated in recent years. The EU's long-term vision should therefore be to come as close as possible to ‘zero deaths’ on the roads by 2050 (Vision Zero).

Infoclip: EU Road Safety Policy - towards "Vision Zero"

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero". Opening statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left,EL), rapporteur and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero": opening statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL), rapporteur and by Commission

This video stockshots presents a series of EU-funded projects on Artificial Intelligence in some of these sectors: Internet of food and farm 2020 (Lithuania), MURAB (The Netherlands), Human brain project (Germany), Symbio-Tic (Sweden), Cyberlegs Plus Plus (Belgium), De-Enigma (The Netherlands), Vi-Das (Spain - The Netherlands).

Infoclip: Artificial Intelligence, EU-funded projects

Róża Gräfin von THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL), rapporteur, speaks to the press on the type-approval requirements for motor vehicles during a press conference in Strasbourg.

Press conference by Róża Gräfin von THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL), rapporteur, on the type-approval requirements for motor vehicles

During the plenary session (15-18 April 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on the report by Róża Gräfin von THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL) on the type-approval requirements for motor vehicles as regards general safety. Safety The regulation, approved by Parliament with 578 votes to 30, and 25 abstentions, will now be submitted for approval to the EU Council of Ministers. Extracts from the vote and illustrative shots.

Type-approval requirements for motor vehicles as regards general safety: extracts from the vote on the report by Róża Gräfin von THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL) and illustrative shots

During the EP Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), MEPs vote on the report on type-approval requirements for motor vehicles and their trailers, and systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, as regards their general safety and the protection of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users. The report is bringing together the current Vehicle General Safety Regulation and the Pedestrian Safety Regulation in a single legal text. The proposal also aims to create a link with future requirements for motor vehicles to obtain a type approval. Statement by Róża Gräfin von THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL), rapporteur.

Road safety: extracts from the vote and statement by Róża Gräfin von THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL), rapporteur

During the EP plenary session (13-16 November 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on a draft resolution to make driver assistance systems mandatory in new cars, in order to prevent crashes, in particular those involving cyclists and pedestrians. Statements by Markus FERBER (EPP, DE), Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, and Wim van de CAMP (EPP, NL), and illustrative pictures of self-driving car demo.

Saving lives; boosting car safety in the EU: extracts from the debate and illustrative pictures

Cars, road and city traffic in the centre of Paris and ring road.

Infoclip: Road and city traffic in Paris

The air pollution situation from traffic in Brussels, Belgium. Busy roads in Brussels such as Rue de la Loi, Rue Belliard and others spew out huge and harmful levels of air pollution. Also the traffic tunnels have a huge impact on the poor air quality.

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