A new report has revealed that the Netherlands is in the top five safest countries in Europe for driving, with one of the lowest numbers of fatalities per one million members of the population.

ACEA road fatalities report

The report by ACEA, the European umbrella organisation of car manufacturers, outlines the number of deaths caused by car accidents in all European countries in 2017. The average number of road fatalities per one million inhabitants in EU countries in that year was 49. The Netherlands stands below this average, with “only” 31 deaths per one million members of the population in 2017.

According to the report, Sweden had the lowest number of fatalities, with 25 deaths per one million inhabitants. Romania, however, experienced the most, with an average of 99 deaths.

The report also revealed that the number of fatalities due to traffic accidents has fallen significantly in the last 20 years. In 2001, 59.000 fatal accidents were registered in the EU alone. This dropped by almost 50 percent, to 25.300 in 2017.

The total average of road fatalities in the EU per day is 69, making road accidents the leading cause of death in the European Union. However, this average is still lower than can be found in any other continent.

Safest European countries for driving

Here are the safest European countries for driving:

1. Sweden - 25 deaths 
2. Great Britain - 28 deaths 
3. Denmark - 30 deaths 
4. The Netherlands - 31 deaths 
5. Ireland - 33 deaths 
6. Estonia - 36 deaths 
7. Germany - 39 deaths 
8. Spain - 39 deaths
9. Malta - 41 deaths 
10. Luxembourg - 42 deaths 
11. Finland - 43 deaths 
12. Austria - 47 deaths 
13. Slovenia - 50 deaths 
14. France - 51 deaths 
15. Slovakia - 51 deaths 
16. Belgium - 54 deaths 
17. Czech Republic - 55 deaths 
18. Italy - 56 deaths 
19. Portugal - 58 deaths 
20. Cyprus - 62 deaths 
21. Hungary - 64 deaths 
22. Lithuania - 67 deaths 
23. Greece - 68 deaths 
24. Latvia - 70 deaths 
25. Poland - 75 deaths 
26. Croatia - 80 deaths 
27. Bulgaria - 96 deaths 
28. Romania - 99 deaths