Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Poor infrastructure is one of the causes of death on the roads

Bulgarian roads most deadly in EU

The Balkan country tops EU ranking for road fatalities

Photo: Pixabay

Bulgaria had the highest road fatality rate in the European Union in 2023, with 82 deaths per million inhabitants, followed by Romania with 81 deaths per million inhabitants, the European Commission (EC) said on 8th March, citing preliminary data.

The EU average is 46 deaths per million inhabitants. Sweden has the safest roads with 22 deaths per million inhabitants, followed by Denmark with 27 per million.

In total, around 20 400 people died in road accidents in the EU, with 52% of deaths on rural roads, 38% in urban areas and 9% on motorways. The tendency for cyclists is worrying as the number of deaths is not decreasing. The main causes of road deaths are lack of adequate infrastructure, speeding, distraction and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Balkan developments

74 % of Romanians have a positive opinion about the introduction of voluntary military service Nearly three-quarters of Romanians (74.2%) have a positive opinion about the introduction of voluntary military service, according to a survey..

published on 9/19/25 12:24 PM

Festival in Plovdiv shows the diversity of butterflies

We sometimes measure their stay on this earth in days, but with an ethereal flight they transform a moment into a beautiful memory. The Regional Natural History Museum of Plovdiv dedicates its Butterfly Festival to these fleeting..

published on 9/19/25 6:55 AM

Balloon Fiesta over Bulgaria's Belogradchik will last a whole month

From September 19, for a month, the sky over the popular Belogradchik Rocks in northwestern Bulgaria will be filled with colorful balloons and magic. The fifth edition of the “Balloon Fiesta” promises five weekends, three types of flights, as well as..

published on 9/19/25 6:05 AM