New figures released by the European Commission show that road deaths across the EU fell by around 3% in 2025, with approximately 19,400 people losing their lives on European roads, 580 fewer than in the previous year. Whilst any reduction is welcome, the data make clear that progress remains uneven and that most Member States are still not on course to meet the EU’s target of halving road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
Among the most striking national improvements, Greece recorded a 22% decrease in fatalities, one of the largest drops anywhere in the EU. The PHOEBE project warmly welcomes this result. Our Athens-based partner NTUA attributes this remarkable outcome to stricter police enforcement of helmet-wearing and drink-driving rules, alongside a new Road Traffic Code that came into force in September 2025, which led to a significant improvement in driver behaviour. In concrete terms, 517 people were killed on Greek roads in 2025, compared with 665 the year before, a record saving of 148 lives. As a result, Greece is moving away from the group of lowest-performing EU countries and approaching the EU average for road safety.
Despite such successes, the broader picture gives cause for concern. The Commission’s mid-point report on its Road Safety Policy Framework confirms that, whilst fatalities have fallen, the current pace of improvement remains insufficient to meet the 2030 goal. For every fatality, an estimated five further people suffer serious injuries, meaning that roughly 100,000 people were seriously hurt in road crashes across the EU in 2025. Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and powered two-wheeler riders, remain disproportionately at risk, particularly in urban areas.
This is precisely the challenge that the EU-funded PHOEBE project is working to address, as we aim to improve road safety for vulnerable road users, including those who rely on active mobility and e-scooters, by combining traffic simulation with road safety assessment.