Main figures

The Basic Fact Sheet Main Figures provides accident data for 25 EU countries over the period 1997-2006. The fact sheet includes several basic characteristics of fatal road accidents. For example: age and gender, type of road, mode of transport, road user type, seasonality, day of the week and time of the day or the road accident fatalities' share in mortality.

The European Commission set the ambitious aim of halving the number of road traffic fatalities by 2010. With the joint effort of all stakeholders, much progress has been achieved. Despite the reduction of road traffic fatalities this has resulted in, there is still a difference between the actual result and the target set by the EC.

Fact: Road accident fatalities in the EU-25 decreased round 30% between 1997 and 2006.

Fact: If the trend continues at the same rate, the EC's goal of reducing fatalities by 50% by 2010 will not be achieved.

Fact: Fatality rates show both a north-south divide and an east-west divide across Europe (see Figure 1).