European roads are not equally safe. A new study conducted by the Swiss company Vignette Switzerland has revealed a sharp contrast in road safety levels across the continent. Data based on statistics from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) for 2025 shows that the EU's eastern neighbors demonstrate the most alarming road fatality rates.

Top Three in Danger

Serbia holds the first place in the anti-rating for the second year in a row. The country recorded 74 fatal accidents per million inhabitants. This figure is 72% higher than the average mortality rate in the European Union. Although the situation remains critical, experts note a slight decrease in the mortality rate compared to the previous year.

The top 3 most dangerous countries also include:

  • Bulgaria — 71 deaths per million inhabitants;
  • Romania — 68 deaths per million inhabitants.

Tourist Traps

Danger lurks not only in countries with traditionally complex road statistics. Popular summer destinations also made it into the top ten for mortality: Portugal, Greece, Italy, and France. Experts emphasize that in some of these countries, the positive trend in reducing accidents has practically stalled. For instance, in Portugal, mortality decreased by only 1% over the last decade, and in France — by 6%.

Scandinavian Safety Standard

While southern and eastern regions struggle with high mortality rates, Scandinavia demonstrates benchmark results. Norway and Sweden shared the first place in the list of the safest countries. There, the mortality rate is only 19 people per million inhabitants — almost four times lower than in Serbia.

The list of safety leaders also includes the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Switzerland.

Progress and Stagnation

The authors of the study analyzed changes over the last decade. The leader in improving the situation was Lithuania, which reduced road deaths by 43% since 2015. Significant progress was also shown by Latvia (minus 37%), Bulgaria (minus 36%), Greece (minus 35%), and Hungary (minus 30%).

Recommendations for Drivers

Experts urge travelers planning car trips across Europe to exercise extra caution. Safety standards and the condition of road infrastructure can differ radically even in neighboring countries. It is recommended to study local traffic rules in advance and adapt driving style to the conditions of the specific country.