Nicosia: Cyprus recorded a 13.5% decrease in road deaths between 2019 and 2025, the 12th largest in the EU-27, according to the 20th annual report published today by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). However, in 2025, Cyprus saw a 9.8% increase in road traffic fatalities.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the report notes that Cyprus dropped to 16th place among the EU member states in terms of road deaths per capita in 2025, down from 14th place in 2024. The road fatality rate per capita in Cyprus was recorded at 46 in 2025, compared to the EU-27 rate of 43.
Furthermore, Cyprus achieved a significant reduction in serious injuries from 2015 to 2025, at 29.2%, ranking as the 7th highest in the EU-24. The report, covering general road safety data as of the end of 2025 for the EU-27, Switzerland, Norway, Serbia, and the United Kingdom, also marks the 20th anniversary of the Road Safety PIN program.
The report highlights the EU’s goal of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% from 2020 to 2030. It mentions that around 19,500 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2025, with more than 100,000 seriously injured. The overall reduction in fatalities was only 2.3% compared to 2024, with Cyprus experiencing a 9.8% increase.
Compared to 2019, only 24 out of 31 participating countries recorded a decrease in road traffic fatalities by 2025. The EU-27 saw a 14.6% reduction, falling short of the 31% needed to meet the 2030 target, while Cyprus recorded a 13.5% decrease, ranking 12th in the EU-27.
Despite slow progress, over 31,000 lives have been saved in the EU-27 over the past decade. If reductions had aligned with the 2030 target, an additional 42,900 lives could have been saved, with an economic benefit of £77 billion.
The EU-27 recorded a 20.2% reduction in traffic fatalities over the past decade, while Cyprus achieved a 21.1% reduction. Cyprus ranked 16th in traffic fatalities per capita in 2025, down from 14th in 2024, with a road fatality rate per capita of 46, compared to the EU-27 rate of 43.
The report also acknowledges Denmark for its progress in road safety, reducing road fatalities by 31.7% from 2019 to 2025, the second-best in the EU-27. Denmark ranked third in 2025 for road fatalities per capita with a rate of 23.
The ETSC emphasizes the disparity in progress among EU countries toward the 50% reduction goal and attributes this to governmental choices. The report provides recommendations for member states and the European Commission to adopt the ‘Safe System’ approach, enforce effective strategies, and provide adequate funding.
It also suggests accelerating data collection on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 and setting specific targets. The European Commission is urged to ensure comprehensive implementation of the ‘Safe System’ approach and consider establishing a new European Agency for transport safety.
The report further recommends setting safe speed limits in line with the ‘Safe System’ approach and implementing best practices in law enforcement, such as speed limits for urban, rural, and highway roads.