Lithuania is among the five countries in the EU that have made the most progress. However, there is still more to achieve
The lowest ever determined number of fatalities per year was registered in Lithuania and eight other European Union (EU) Member States (Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Sweden). Such data were published by the European Commission after having assessed the preliminary data for 2021 of road fatalities.
In 2021, 147 people died in traffic accidents in Lithuania, that is, 16% less than in 2020. Compared to 2019, which is the last year before the pandemic, the number of road fatalities in Lithuania decreased by 22%. Based on this indicator, Lithuania is among the five countries in which the decrease of more than 20 percent was achieved. In addition to Lithuania, a decrease of more than 20 percent was also recorded in Denmark, Belgium, Portugal and Poland.
In 2021, there were 52 fatalities per one million of the population in Lithuania, that is, eleven fatalities less than in 2020 (63) and fifteen less than in 2019 (67). Based on this indicator, that was achieved in 2021, Lithuania ranks 19th among all EU member states. Last year, Lithuania was ranked 23rd based on this indicator. The overall distribution of EU countries based on the indicators of fatalities per one million of the population has changed little: the safest roads remain in Sweden (18), while the highest indicator in 2021 was determined in Romania (93). In the European Union, there are on average 44 road fatalities per one million of the population.
“The information, that was published by the European Commission a few days before the 6th of April, when the Traffic Safety Day is commemorated, shows the situation in the country that is gradually improving. However, this is only the beginning of achieving the goal, that has been set by the European Union – to halve the number of road fatalities by 2030, and achieve by 2050 a zero road fatalities rate”, – says Remigijus Lipkevičius, Director of the State Enterprise Lithuanian Road Administration.
The engineering traffic safety measures implemented by the SE Lithuanian Road Administration (hereinafter – the Road Administration) and various educational activities carried out by it contribute to increasing safety on our roads, creating a safer traffic environment and educating a well-mannered road user.
For example, as stated by R. Lipkevičius, Director of the Road Administration, in 2021, traffic conditions were being improved: traffic safety infrastructure was installed on the roads of national importance (roundabouts, modern pedestrian crossings, footpaths and cycling paths, etc.), road markings were renewed, and other road maintenance and development projects were implemented. In addition, last year, in carrying out educational activity projects of direct communication, the Road Administration has reached an audience of more than 72 thousand. Active communication on traffic safety was also carried out in the profiles of the Road Administration on social networks. This information was actively shared by observers. Merely the posts on traffic safety, that were published on Facebook in the account of the Road Administration, reached an audience of more than 730 thousand people.
Based on the preliminary data of the Lithuanian Road Police Service, in 2021, 41% of all road traffic fatalities were drivers, 25% were passengers, 18% were pedestrians, 8% were bicycle riders, 8% were motorcycle and moped riders.
In EU countries, car passengers (drivers and passengers) accounted for 43%, passengers accounted for 20%, motorcycle and moped users accounted for 18%, and bicycle riders accounted for 10% of all road fatalities.