Romania ranks second in the European ranking of fatal accidents
Romania remains on the black podium of road safety in the EU
Although official figures for 2025 show a historic decrease in the number of road deaths, Romania continues to watch the rest of Europe through the safety rearview mirror. A new preliminary report by the European Commission places us in second place in the European Union in road mortality, being "surpassed" only by neighboring Bulgaria.
Romania achieved a bizarre feat in 2025: it lost the title of "the most dangerous country in the EU" for drivers and pedestrians, but not because our roads suddenly became impeccable, but because we progressed a little faster than Bulgaria. With 68 deaths per million inhabitants, our country remains in a critical zone, well above the European average of 43 deaths.
Between progress and tragedy
If we look at the glass half full, the evolution is undeniable. In 2024, Romania recorded 78 deaths per million inhabitants. The 12% decrease in a single year (and 30% compared to the 2019 baseline) suggests that investments in infrastructure, the digitalization of traffic monitoring and awareness campaigns are finally starting to move the speedometer needle in the right direction.
However, the regional context offers us a more sober perspective:
| Country/Region | Deaths per 1 Million Inhabitants (2025) | Status |
| Sweden | 20 | Safest EU Member State |
| EU Average | 43 | Medium-term Target |
| Romania | 68 | 2nd Most Dangerous |
| Bulgaria | 71 | 1st Most Dangerous |
Why is Sweden "stagnant" at 20, while we are rejoicing at 68?
While we celebrate the drop from 78 to 68, Sweden reported exactly the same number for 2025 as the previous year: 20 deaths per million inhabitants. The difference lies not only in the quality of the asphalt, but in the philosophy of "Vision Zero" — a system designed to protect life even when a person makes a mistake behind the wheel.
In Romania, although the number of fatal accidents is decreasing, the causes remain the same chronic "diseases": excessive speed, pedestrian indiscipline, and infrastructure that does not forgive driving errors.
Conclusion: One step forward, two kilometers back
It is encouraging to see that 2025 has brought fewer broken families on national roads. However, the fact that we are still more than three times more dangerous than a Nordic state should temper our enthusiasm. We have left the black “crown” to Bulgaria, but we are still far from being a country where driving is not a risky sport.