Reducing serious road traffic injuries

1 January 0001

The European Commission has increased efforts to cut the numbers of serious road traffic injuries as part of its ‘vision zero’ goal. In the past, much Commission work in this area targeted fatalities. Data collection and the creation of a common EU database on road deaths has been a powerful tool facilitating comparison of trends, development of initiatives and more targeted actions.

Road accidents cause many serious injuries with lifelong consequences for victims and their families. These injuries have a big impact on society as a whole, and the economic cost is also high. A disproportionate amount of people seriously injured on Europe’s roads are vulnerable road users, and they account for an even higher share in towns and cities. Protecting them is a priority.

More people are seriously injured than killed on roads, so injury figures are more likely to be statistically significant. Taking serious injuries into account also allows us to make more accurate projections regarding the future and to see what we need to focus on for increased protection of road users, particularly vulnerable road users. A full explanation about the initiative is available on the European Commission Road Safety Newsletter here.