The most DANGEROUS European countries to drive in – and the safest

To drive or not to drive

Road trips can be a great way to explore Europe. But do you know which European nations are the safest – and most dangerous – to drive in? Road safety varies enormously – some countries see very few fatalities on the road, while others record scores of accidents every year. Based on a study by Vignetteswitzerland.com, which analysed the latest data from the European Transport Safety Council, we’ve listed the 10 safest European countries for drivers – and then the 10 most dangerous.

Read on to discover the European countries with the safest and most dangerous roads…

10th safest: Spain (37 deaths per million population)

Spain recorded 37.08 deaths per million in 2022 – almost 10% fewer than in 2012, when there were 41.19. The country has improved its road safety record in recent years with a renewed focus on seat belt and helmet use. In 2024, a key regulation was introduced – banning overtaking other vehicles while exceeding the speed limit by 12 miles per hour (20km/h) or more on normal roads. Fines for using a mobile phone while driving and using seat belts and child seats incorrectly have also increased.

9th safest: Israel (37 deaths per million population)

Israel is generally considered to be in Asia but was included in this dataset, and reported 36.61 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2022 – a slight decrease from the 37.82 in 2012. Older people above 75 were most at risk, followed by young people between 21 and 24 years old. Speeding is among the leading causes of car crashes, with more than 50% of Israeli drivers exceeding speed limits on standard roads. It’s hoped that an ongoing national road safety plan will halve the number of fatalities and severe injuries by 2030. The British foreign office and US State Department both advise against non-essential travel to Israel currently due to ongoing conflict in the region.

8th safest: Finland (34 deaths per million population)

Despite Nordic weather throwing the occasional curveball, Finland is a pretty safe place to drive, and its roads are generally in good condition. According to the data, Finland recorded 34.43 deaths per million in 2022 – down from 47.21 deaths per million a decade earlier. In 2023, the country recorded 173 fatalities in road traffic accidents – a drop from 2022 (196) and 2021 (225). This is partly down to improvements to the country's highways and the implementation of Vision Zero – a multinational initiative aiming to eliminate serious road traffic accidents.

7th safest: Germany (33 deaths per million population)

Germany saw 33.35 road deaths per million in 2022 – down from 44 deaths per million in 2012. Despite a decrease across the decade, Germany's Federal Statistical Office reported that the 2,782 people killed in 2022 marked a 9% increase from the previous year. Nevertheless, Germany, which has a population of 83.3 million, is well-known for its automotive engineering and road infrastructure. The Autobahn system (pictured) is a world-renowned, 8,000-mile (13,000km) highway network with sections that have no speed limits.

6th safest: Ireland (31 deaths per million population)

Ireland comes in sixth place for road safety, with 30.83 deaths per million inhabitants in 2022. There were 35.57 road deaths per million in 2012, so that's a drop of around 13%. According to Ireland's Road Safety Authority, 184 people died in fatal collisions in 2023, the large majority of them (78%) male. Most deaths occurred in Tipperary, Dublin and Cork. Earlier this year the government approved a new Road Traffic Bill, which brings in penalty point reform, drug testing reform and safer speed limits.

5th safest: Switzerland (28 deaths per million population)

If you’re after a European road trip, Switzerland has perhaps the continent's most scenic mountain roads. This landlocked country of 8.8 million people has a high-quality road network, with plenty of tunnels and bridges criss-crossing its steep Alpine topography. It is also one of Europe's safest countries for drivers, with 27.58 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2022, compared to 42.62 in 2012. Since 2021, drivers aged under 20 have been required to have a provisional licence for at least a year before obtaining their full licence.

4th safest: Denmark (26 deaths per million population)

Denmark had ​​26.22 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2022 – down from 29.93 in 2012. Of the 154 people killed on the roads in 2022, 29 were involved in alcohol-related incidents. Denmark has some good stats to back up its high rating: it boasts Europe's highest self-reported rate of seat belt wearing in the back seat, and its self-reported rate of talking on a mobile phone while driving is lower than the European average. On the other hand, it performs worse than the European average for self-reported speeding and helmet use among cyclists.

3rd safest: United Kingdom (26 deaths per million population)

The UK takes the bronze medal in the list of Europe’s safest roads, with 25.89 road deaths per million in 2022 – a total of 1,711 fatalities. The large majority of those fatalities – 76% – were male. In 2024, England’s government invested £38.3 million ($49m) to make 17 of the country's most high-risk roads safer. In Wales, motorists now have to limit their speed to 20 miles per hour (32km/h) in built-up areas, and many areas of London have introduced the same limit as a default. Scotland plans to follow suit and make the policy nationwide by 2025.

2nd safest: Sweden (22 deaths per million population)

Sweden's 10.5 million residents will be pleased to know their roads finished second safest in Europe. Sweden saw 21.72 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2022 – a hefty reduction from 2012 when there were 30.05. This partly comes from Vision Zero, a road safety initiative that Sweden has followed since 1997, and which other countries are now part of too. Based on the idea that road systems and their designers are more responsible for crashes than road users, it aims to eventually eliminate serious injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents.

1st safest: Norway (21 deaths per million population)

Norway – a land of stunning fjord-side roads and picturesque mountain passes – is the safest European country to drive in. The country recorded just 21.38 deaths per million inhabitants in 2022, a significant drop from 2012's 29.08. Norway, which adopted its own version of Vision Zero in 1999, has an excellent road safety record and fatalities have steadily declined. 2020 marked an important milestone – its 93 fatalities marked the first year on record that fewer than 100 people died on the nation's roads.

10th most dangerous: Italy (54 deaths per million population)

Number 10 on the list of most dangerous European countries to drive in is Italy, with 53.7 deaths per million inhabitants in 2022. This figure has dropped from 2012 – when there were 61.71 road deaths per million. Italy's roads are often narrow, congested and in poor condition, while distraction, issues relating to right of way and speeding are the main causes of accidents, according to figures from the Automobile Club d'Italia.

9th most dangerous: Hungary (55 deaths per million population)

With 55.22 deaths per million population, the fatality rate from traffic accidents in Hungary is well above the EU average for 2022 (46 deaths per million), making its roads the ninth most dangerous in Europe. Set right in the heart of the continent, Hungary’s roads are busy, and their worst ever year for fatalities was 1990 when nearly 2,500 people died. In 2021, Hungary recorded 544 road traffic fatalities – a marked improvement, if still not great. It has the third-highest road density in Europe, after only Belgium and the Netherlands.

8th most dangerous: Luxembourg (56 deaths per million population)

With 55.78 road deaths per million in 2022, Luxembourg comes in as the eighth most dangerous country in Europe for driving. This was down from 2012’s figures, when the tiny landlocked country of 653,000 people recorded 64.78 deaths per million residents. The majority of these accidents took place on rural routes, and Luxembourg's urban roads boast a good safety record. According to self-reported figures from the European Road Safety Observatory, Luxembourg has the highest frequency in Europe for speeding and drink-driving.

7th most dangerous: Latvia (60 deaths per million population)

Despite recent improvements, Latvia’s roads are still among the most dangerous in Europe, with 60.24 fatalities per million. Back in 2012, the Baltic country experienced 86.69 road deaths per million, which would land it top spot on this list today. These figures are partly explained by poor-quality roads and infrastructure, while cars tend to be significantly older than the EU average and motorcycle helmets are not always worn. The country also experiences cold and potentially hazardous weather in the winter, during which winter tyres are compulsory.

6th most dangerous: Greece (61 deaths per million population)

Greece has one of Europe’s worst road safety records, recording 60.71 deaths per million in 2022. Compared to the rest of Europe, the country has low-quality roads and a high density of motorcycles – many fatalities involve motorbike accidents on urban roads. Greece also has a low rate of self-reported seat belt wearing and a higher than average rate of self-reported drink driving. In 2021, the Greek government launched a road safety plan that aims to reduce deaths by 50% by 2030, including upgrades to infrastructure and giving urban areas a 19 miles per hour (30km/h) speed limit.

5th most dangerous: Portugal (62 deaths per million population)

Portugal also has a higher-than-average road fatality rate. Despite a relatively modest population of 10.2 million people, it saw 618 deaths on its roads – or 62.3 per million population – in 2022. But the country has made progress, and road deaths have fallen from 68.11 per million in 2012. According to the European Commission, Portugal’s roads are relatively low density and are of high quality – so infrastructure doesn't seem to be the problem.

4th most dangerous: Croatia (71 deaths per million population)

With 275 deaths from road traffic accidents in total in 2022 – or 71.2 per million inhabitants – Croatia is the fourth most dangerous European country to drive in. While those figures are well above the EU average, Croatia's number of fatalities has decreased at a higher-than-average rate over the last decade. According to the European Commission, accidents often take place on urban roads after dark, while seat belt use is not enforced effectively. Croatian roads are often narrow and picturesque, such as the Adriatic Highway (or D8) that skirts the country's coast.

3rd most dangerous: Bulgaria (78 deaths per million population)

In 2022, 531 people lost their lives on Bulgarian roads, meaning that there were 77.64 deaths per million people. Bulgaria has the third-highest road fatality rate in Europe, although the figures have dropped since 2012 when the country recorded 82.62 deaths per million. Key contributors to these numbers are speeding, a low rate of seat belt use and drink driving. Bulgaria has a higher than average legal alcohol limit for drivers and its 87 miles per hour (140km/h) maximum speed on motorways is the highest limit in the EU.

2nd most dangerous: Serbia (83 deaths per million population)

With 82.65 road deaths per million inhabitants, Serbia is Europe's second most dangerous country for drivers. Speeding is the most frequent cause of crashes according to the International Transport Forum, with drink driving and distraction are also issues. Road quality varies widely but it's generally worse in rural areas, especially after bad weather. The Western Balkans Road Summit has called for safer roads in Serbia via stricter speed controls, improving infrastructure and more.

1st most dangerous: Romania (86 deaths per million population)

Romania takes the top spot that no one wants – it's the most dangerous European country to drive in. Fatality numbers have fallen recently but the eastern European country’s figures remain shockingly high, with 1,633 fatalities in 2022 – or 85.81 per million inhabitants. The causes include speeding and poor road quality, while an inconsistent level of investment in infrastructure means conditions vary greatly. The country has one particularly well-known road – the Transfagarasan Highway (pictured), which hairpins up the Fagaras Mountains in Transylvania and is a major tourist attraction.

Read on to see stunning images of the most dangerous roads on Earth