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The number of road deaths in the EU

The total number of road deaths in the EU is decreasing steadily. Compared to 1990, The number of road deaths is 42% lower in the old 15 Member States. The Netherlands shows exactly the same decrease.

Recently the EU has also set a target: halving the 2001 number of road deaths by 2010. Between 2001 and 2004, the old 15 Member States have materialized an 18% reduction, which is about one third of the decrease aimed at. The Netherlands achieved a 19% decrease which must entirely be attributed to the favourable number in 2004. The 10 new Member States have not shown any decrease since 2001; there has even been a slight increase. If the current trend continues, the EU target will not be achieved.

 

Number of road deaths

Index 1990

Index 2001

Year

EU15

EU+10

NL

EU15

NL

EU15

EU+10

NL

1990

56,055

14,670

1,376

100

100

141

139

139

1995

46,096

12,899

1,334

82

97

116

122

134

2000

40,767

11,480

1,082

73

79

102

109

109

2001

39,850

10,535

993

71

72

100

100

100

2002

38,676

11,131

987

69

72

97

106

99

2003*

35,927

10,782

1,028

64

75

90

102

104

2004*

32,716

10,840

804

58

58

82

103

81

2010 target

25,000

 

 

 

50

 

* Provisional number; for Belgium the 2002 number is used for 2003 and 2004.
Road deaths in the 15 EU Member States and 10 recently joined countries and development compared with 1990 and 2001. Source: IRTAD and CARE.