The World Health Organization has released a Road Safety Manual for decision-makers and practitioners concerning Speed management. Speed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of crash as well as the severity of the injuries. This second edition of the Speed management Manual offers guidance to help decision makers and practitioners put in place the comprehensive set of laws, regulations and actions needed to save lives. Rooted in new case studies and evidence, including from low- and middle-income countries, it includes guidelines for safe speeds, ensuring safer mobility for all road users and actions to improve emergency responses to crashes.  

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission released the Statistical Pocketbook 2022 “EU Transport in figures”. In this Statistical Pocketbook, key road safety Tables are contained, together with several other Tables on transport statistics, providing a complete picture of current trends in transport in Europe. Data on road fatalities for the EU member states and associate countries allow for time series comparisons and country rankings.  

Based on the new interactive map of EUROSTAT on road safety performance of European Union regions (NUTS 2), there were 19,917 road fatalities on EU roads in 2021, equivalent to 45 road fatalities per million inhabitants. In total, there were 24 EU regions with at least 80 road fatalities per million inhabitants and the highest incidence rates for road fatalities were recorded in rural regions. In urban and capital regions much lower rates of road fatalities are reported with the lowest incidence rates observed in Brussels,Belgium (7 fatalities per million inhabitants), Wien, Austria (8), Stockholm, Sweden (9), and Bremen, Germany (9). 

The European Commission published the latest figures on Road safety in the EU, showing that 20,640 people were killed in road crashes in 2022, a 4% increase in relation to 2021 as traffic levels recovered after the pandemic. While the underlying long-term trend is downward (-9% compared to pre-pandemic year), it is not decreasing at a fast enough pace to reach the EU target of halving the number of deaths by 2030.  Preliminary figures for the first six months of 2023 indicate the number of deaths on EU roads has fallen slightly, compared with the same period in 2022. 

The first results of the ESRA3 (E-Survey of Road users’ Attitudes) global survey on road users’ safety attitudes, self-declared behaviour on traffic and other background data such as exposure and traffic legislation, have recently been published. VIAS, with the active contribution of NTUA, has produced the 39 Country Fact Sheets that show national results compared to regional average values. Several other thematic reports will be published in 2024. 

The International Road Federation (IRF) released the 60th edition of the IRF World Road Statistics 2023 (WRS2023), with data now open to all for free through the IRF WRS Data Warehouse platform, thanks to the generous support of the TotalEnergies Foundation and Michelin Corporate Foundation. The IRF WRS 2023 continues to be the major comprehensive, universal source of statistical data on road networks, traffic and inland transport, including traffic accidents. This year the WRS 2023 includes the latest data covering years 2016 to 2021, with the active contribution of NTUA for the Greek data. It includes over 200 road and transport-sector related indicators across 11 sections, covering more than 200 countries and territories   . Follow the launching event on 28 September 2023. 

Basic characteristics of road fatalities in Greece for the period 2012-2021 are summarised in a comprehensive infographic prepared by the NTUA Road Safety Observatory (data source: ELSTAT). According to these time series data, a spectacular decrease in road fatalities for pedestrians (-54%), inside(-56%) and outside built-up areas (-53%) was observed during the last decade. On the contrary, there was a large increase in the number of fatalities during daylight (+67%) and that needs to be considered.  

According to data of the Hellenic Statistical Authority, 38 Greek cities recorded zero road fatalities inside build-up areas (excluding motorways) for at least one calendar year during the decade 2012-2021. Some cities recorded zero fatalities multiple times, such as the Municipality of Vyronas (9 years) and the Municipality of Kalamaria (7 years). The interactive map shows the road fatalities inside build-up areas (excluding motorways) of cities with population above 50,000 inhabitants, which account for 27% of road fatalities in Greece. 

The new EU road fatalities interactive infographic of the NTUA Road Safety Observatory, based on European Commission CARE data for 2021, allows for performance comparisons for different types of road crashes. It is demonstrated that disaggregate data can reveal hidden road safety problems, allowing national Authorities to focus on targeted road safety countermeasures.  

The new Greek Regions interactive road fatalities Infographic of the NTUA Road Safety Observatory, based on ELSTAT data for 2021, allows for performance comparisons for different types of road crashes. It is demonstrated that disaggregate data can reveal hidden road safety issues, allowing national and local Authorities to focus on targeted road safety countermeasures.  

According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) road crashes data for 2021 in Greece, 36% of road fatalities are passenger car occupants, whereas 34% of road fatalities are power two wheelers. Most car occupant fatalities occur outside built-up areas, while most motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities occur inside built-up areas.  

According to the latest Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data for 2021, most road fatalities in Greece occur at daytime, 346 out of 624 total fatalities. At night, inside built-up area with good street lighting occur 125 fatalities and outside built-up area with no street lighting occur 56 fatalities.  

According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data, among the 624 persons killed in Greece in 2021: 310 were outside built-up areas and 314 were inside built-up areas. Half of fatalities occurred in rural areas. The lowest percentage of fatalities occurs on motorways, despite the significant amount of vehicle kilometers driven.  

According to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data, 624 persons were killed in Greece in 2021: 447 drivers, 82 passengers and 95 pedestrians. Males account for 81% of all road fatalities in Greece during the last decade. In 2021, there is no region with female fatality rate over 27%, while males aged 25-49 y.o. account for 33% of all road fatalities.  

According to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data, 624 persons were killed in Greece in 2021: 447 drivers, 82 passengers and 95 pedestrians.  Since 2020, there is a slight increase in driver fatalities, from 68% to 72% of total road fatalities. In 2021, older pedestrians (65+) account for 44% of pedestrian fatalities and people aged 25-49 y.o. account for 37% of total fatalities.  

Road fatalities in Greece in 2022 presented a slight increase (2%) compared to 2021 figures, according to the provisional ELSTAT data. This slight increase is mainly attributed to the returning back to normal traffic from the pandemic period. During the last decade, Greece presented an impressive road safety improvement in the European Union, with a decrease of 28% in road fatalities since 2013 and a decrease of serious injuries of 48%. The rate fatalities per million vehicles has decreased by 33% since 2013.  

Τhe European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published the 44th PIN Flash Report titled Reducing Road Deaths among Powered Two Wheeler Users. This Report examines the latest data on PTW user road deaths from across the EU and other countries that form part of ETSC’s Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) programme. It also looks at the at the main measures for reducing the risks to PTW users including training, licensing, infrastructure, technical inspections, the use of protective equipment and new technologies.  

FERSI expresses its concern that European road safety research is no longer delivering what it ought to, impeding the improvements needed to achieve the European ambitious road safety targets. This position paper details how the structure of road safety research funding in Europe impacts the potential progress that can be made in European road safety and provides some suggestions for solutions.  

Τhe European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) together with the UK Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) recently published a new Report titled “Recommendations on Safety of E-scooters“. The Report is in response to the rapid growth of e-scooter usage over the last five years and an associated increase in deaths and serious injuries. It takes into account a wide body of available data, hospital studies, vehicle safety testing and research from across Europe and beyond. 

The European Commission published preliminary figures on Road safety in the EU, showing that around 20,600 people were killed in road crashes last year, a 3% increase in 2021 as traffic levels recovered after the pandemic. This represents however 2,000 fewer fatalities (-10%) compared with the pre-pandemic year 2019. EU-wide, road deaths in 2022 rose by 3% on the previous year, not least as traffic levels recovered levels following the pandemic. Compared with 2019, the number of deaths in 2022 fell by 10%. 

The World Health Organization has released a Road Safety Manual for decision-makers and practitioners concerning Powered Two- and Three-Wheeler (PTW) Safety. This second edition of the Powered- Two and Three-Wheeler Safety Manual offers guidance to help decision makers and practitioners put in place the comprehensive set of laws, regulations and actions needed to save lives. Rooted in new case studies and evidence, including from low- and middle-income countries, it includes guidelines on developing safer roads, ensuring safer mobility for all road users, vehicle safety standards, and actions to improve emergency responses to crashes. 

Τhe European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has recently published a new Report titled “Progress in Reducing Drink-driving and other Alcohol-related Road Deaths in Europe“. This Report aims to provide an updated overview of the drink-driving situation in Europe, covering 30 countries: 25 Member States of the European Union together with the United Kingdom, Israel, Norway, the Republic of Serbia and Switzerland. It looks at country-by-country progress in reducing road deaths attributed to drink-driving over the past decade.  A range of recommendations for further tackling drink-driving are included for national governments and the EU institutions throughout this Report.  

Τhe European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published the 2nd LEARN Flash Report titled “The Role of Education in Reducing Deaths among Children and Youngsters on European Roads“. This Report provides an overview of the road safety of children and youngsters across Europe. It focuses on the progress in reducing road deaths during the past decade (2011-2021) as well as differences in road safety between the different countries, age groups as well as genders. It also provides recommendations to improve the provision and quality of traffic safety and mobility education.  

The Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG Move) of the European Commission released the Statistical Pocketbook 2022 “EU Transport in figures”. In this Statistical Pocketbook, key road safety Tables are contained, together with several other Tables on transport statistics, providing a complete picture of current trends in transport in Europe. Data on road fatalities for the EU member states and associate countries allow for time series comparisons and country rankings.  

The Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport produced for the first time ever Road Safety Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all key crash risk factors in Greece, with the active contribution of NTUA. The five KPIs related to road user behavior concern speeding, seatbelt use, helmet use, driving under the influence of alcohol and distraction and demonstrate the basic causes of road crashes in Greece.  These KPIs have been incorporated at the new National Road Safety Plan of Greece in order to identify key road safety problems in Greece and to determine the respective solutions, but also for the setting of the 8 road safety KPI targets for the decade (e.g. helmet wearing rate from 79% today, to 90% in 2025 and 95% in 2030). 

The International Road Federation (IRF) released the 59th edition of the IRF World Road Statistics 2022 (WRS2022), with data now open to all for free through the IRF WRS Data Warehouse platform, thanks to the generous support of the TotalEnergies Foundation and Michelin Corporate Foundation. The IRF WRS 2022 continues to be the major comprehensive, universal source of statistical data on road networks, traffic and inland transport, including traffic accidents. This year the WRS 2022 includes the latest data covering years 2015 to 2020, with the active contribution of NTUA for the Greek data. It includes over 200 road and transport-sector related indicators across 11 sections, covering more than 200 countries and territories.   

Τhe European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has published the 43rd PIN Flash Report titled Reducing Child Deaths on European Roads. This report examines the latest data on child road deaths from across the EU and other countries that form part of ETSC’s Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) programme. It also looks at the main measures for reducing the risks to children including mobility policies and improved infrastructure, child restraint systems, vehicle safety, helmet use, pre-hospital care and licensing of young drivers who, in some countries, are able to ride a moped or scooter at the age of 14.  

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) published the 16th edition of PIN Annual Report , with the active contribution of NTUA, presented at the 2022 ETSC Road Safety Performance Index Award event which took place online with great success on 15 June 2022. The EU27 collectively reduced the number of road deaths by 31% over the period 2011-2021, from 28,865 in 2011 to 19,823 in 2021. There were 57,095 fewer deaths on EU roads over the last decade than there would have been if deaths had continued at the same level as in 2011. 

The European Commission published preliminary figures on Road safety in the EU, showing that  road fatalities in 2021 remain well below pre-pandemic level. EU-wide, road deaths in 2021 rose by 5% on the previous year, although comparisons with 2020 are strongly influenced by the traffic level patterns in each country during the course of the pandemic. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of road fatalities fell by 17%.  

Road fatalities in Greece in 2021 presented a slight increase (4%) compared to 2020 figures, according to the provisional ELSTAT data. This slight increase is mainly attributed to the returning back to normal traffic from the pandemic period. During the last decade, Greece presented an impressive road safety improvement in the European Union, with a decrease of 38% in road fatalities since 2012 and a decrease of serious injuries of 60%. The rate fatalities per million vehicles has decreased by 42% since 2012.