Cyclist deaths in the European Union are declining at a rate four times slower than those of motorized vehicle users, warned the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) today, calling for immediate measures to reduce accident rates.
In 2024, 1,926 cyclists died on European Union roads, accounting for 10% of all traffic-related deaths, according to a report published by the ETSC, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing transport-related casualties.
“Between 2014 and 2024, cyclist deaths fell by only 8%, which is equivalent to an average annual reduction of 0.5%, compared to 2% per year for motor vehicle users,” the organization alerts.
The ETSC warns that “this rate of improvement is far from what is necessary to meet the EU’s goal of halving road deaths by 2030,” a target that would require a 6.5% annual decrease—thirteen times higher than the current rate for cyclists. The report calls for “measures to reduce traffic speeds and accelerate the development of safer infrastructure.”
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According to ETSC data, Portugal recorded 25 cyclist deaths in 2024, representing 5% of the total road fatalities, a decrease compared to the previous three years, which consistently saw more than 30 deaths.
However, in Portugal, cyclist deaths have only fallen by 0.4% since 2014, while the number of deaths among motorized vehicle users increased by 1.2% in the same period.
The report identifies collisions with motorized vehicles as the primary risk factor for cyclists, responsible for 65% of all cycling fatalities.
“Governments are actively encouraging more people to cycle: for the climate, to reduce the use of fossil fuels and congestion, for public health, and for our cities. But they are not providing the safety conditions that cyclists need,” stated the report’s co-author, Jenny Carson, as cited by the EFE agency.
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The ETSC insists on the necessity of “reducing traffic speed,” emphasizing that the risk of death for a cyclist hit at 50 km/h is significantly higher than for one hit at 30 km/h. The organization also calls for urgent increased investment in protected cycle lanes, segregated paths, and safer crossings.
“You cannot ask people to cycle and then not protect them from high-speed traffic,” concluded Carson.
