The 10 nations with the fewest accidents on the roads
In some countries, unlike in others, the safety of drivers and passengers on the road is not entirely guaranteed.
The main reasons that explain this phenomenon are, first and foremost, the unequal development – in every sense – that they have experienced and the distribution of wealth.
On the other hand, there are regions of the world, primarily on the Old Continent, in which this facet is exceptionally well taken care of by institutions and drivers; it is essential to bring attention to the fact that these regions exist.
As a result, in this issue of Motorbli, we will compile a list of the ten nations in Europe that have the safest roads overall.
Readers who enjoy driving can be encouraged to rent a car during their upcoming vacations without worrying about their safety or ability to maintain their physical integrity.
We strongly suggest that you make a note of this.
When it comes to road safety, these 10 countries in Europe have the fewest number of accidents.
After we have provided some background information on the subject that we will discuss next, it is time to get down to business and give a detailed description of the nations that, according to the data, can boast a certain level of road safety on their roadways and streets.
It is important to note that the European Commission gathered there; consequently, the authenticity of what will appear from this point forward will be apparent.
10. France
France ranks tenth among Europe’s countries with the lowest fatalities due to traffic accidents, with 39 deaths per million inhabitants.
When people get behind the wheel in the Gaul, they frequently do not obey the posted speed limits, which is the primary factor that leads to such terrible accidents in this region.
Because of this, it is helpful to indicate which thresholds have been set for each road:
9. Germany
Germany is the second country listed here and is placed in the ninth position.
Germany is ninth, with 33 people killed per million inhabitants. It is true that, as we discussed in a post related to this topic, there are territories that set limits on their roads; however, because the German state is a federal state, there is no speed limit set on its streets at the national level.
This is even though some territories set limits on their roads.
When I think about that entry again, I realize that the reason why there is no state-level regularization of speed limits may be because of the tremendous commercial weight of the most recognized brands of high-end automobiles, such as Audi, Volkswagen, and Mercedes, which have high-performance capabilities that their drivers want to squeeze.
The authorities have recently established a new roadway category known as the Cycling Zone.
This zone separates cyclists and pedestrians from other vehicles and drivers who might harm them and shield them from harm.
8. Spain
Spain is one of the countries that has seen the most significant reduction in the number of fatalities in recent years.
As a result, Spain now ranks fourth in the European Union and seventh on the African continent regarding the number of people killed in traffic accidents.
It recorded 32 fatalities for every million inhabitants that make up its population, which is 20% less than it did in 2019, according to the most recent data that has been kept on record.
The Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, attributed a portion of this decrease to reducing the maximum speed allowed on streets with only one lane per the direction of traffic to 30 kilometers per hour.
This limitation was put in place in January of this year.
When traveling on freeways in Spain, the maximum speed that can be reached is 120 kilometers per hour, and the top speed that can be exceeded by 20 kilometers per hour is only allowed if overtaking is to be carried out.
The primary cause of fatalities in Spain is non-compliance with speed limits.
To conclude with the case of Spain, it is essential to note that Spain is the second EU country, after Croatia, that most reduced the number of traffic accidents between the years of 2010 and 2020 with a percentage of 44%.
7. The Netherlands
According to the most recent statistics, the Netherlands had approximately 31 deaths for every million people living there.
However, in recent decades it has been reducing the number of fatalities on its roads.
In 1985, about 42,348 people lost their lives in road accidents in this country, and the following year it was able to reduce the number to 14,364 people who lost their lives in road accidents in this country.
In this century, it has been able to lower the barrier of 10,000 deaths by implementing measures for sustainable road safety.
This represents a reduction of more than fifty percent from the deaths that occurred in the previous century.
An accomplishment that is even more impressive when one considers that it is the country in the European Union with the highest population density, which stands at 488 people per square kilometer.
6. Iceland
We have reached a region very densely populated by Scandinavian countries, which account for all references in this topic.
Iceland is included in this table, with several deaths projected to be 24 per million inhabitants in 2021.
To put these numbers into perspective, we are speaking of an island comparable in size to others, such as Cuba and Guatemala, with a high rate of automobile ownership per resident, specifically 1.5.
Hringvegur, Iceland’s primary roadway, circumnavigates a significant portion of the country’s topography. It connects a number of the country’s most important population centers.
It is 1,337 kilometers long and has one lane in each direction, except for the areas surrounding large cities and a tunnel known as Hvalfjorur, which offers more.
5. Switzerland
In the same way that it is necessary to contextualize Iceland about the physiognomy of its territory, the same is valid for Switzerland.
Within its 41,277 square kilometers, in 2021, this tax haven reported a fatality rate of approximately 23 people per one million residents.
Its speed limits are generally set at 50 kilometers per hour in its cities and 80 kilometers per hour outside of them, with 120 kilometers per hour being the maximum allowed on its highways.
The maximum amount of alcohol in a person’s blood is 0.5%, and anyone who exceeds that limit faces legal consequences.
Since 2014, motorists have been required by law to keep their headlights and taillights on at all times, even when it is daylight outside.
Whoever does not have them of this type must use the headlights in the dipped position, while those with them can use them.
4. Denmark
Denmark, which had 27 victims per million before the pandemic, now has 23 victims per million inhabitants due to the pandemic.
The Danes are very safety-conscious, and this awareness starts at the top with their government, which enforces speed limits that are significantly lower than those in other countries along these lines: 110 kilometers per hour on highways, 80 kilometers per hour on conventional roads, and 50 kilometers per hour in cities.
A valid driver’s license must be at least one year old, and the minimum age to rent a car is generally 21 years old (although this varies depending on the type of vehicle).
Additionally, it is a country with more stringent automobile access regulations.
Because they are regarded as inexperienced drivers, motorists under 25 may be subject to an additional fee in certain circumstances.
3. Sweden
It is widely regarded as the “road safety paradise,” In 2019, it took first place in this ranking with 22 fatalities for every million people living there.
According to preliminary data from the European Commission, it has dropped to 18. A piece of information that pushes it closer to the top three in this ranking.
It is not common practice to drive at speeds greater than 110 kilometers per hour (km/h), and the speed limit on non-urban roads is either 70 or 90 kilometers per hour (km/h), depending on the specific type of road.
Within the city, it is against the law to travel at speeds greater than 50 kilometers per hour (km/h).
However, most of its cities are made up of residential neighborhoods, and the highest speed limit permitted in these areas is 30 kilometers per hour.
In addition, the penalties they impose are harsher; for example, if you drive faster than 30 kilometers per hour in one of these residential areas, you will be stripped of your driver’s license.
Not to mention that to obtain it, the candidate must be put through a series of dangerous driving scenarios, such as driving on a patch of ice or driving with a film of water that favors aquaplaning.
2. Malta
Malta comes second with a meager death rate, with only 17 deaths occurring for every million inhabitants.
Its 316-square-kilometer-sized landmass is one factor that contributes to this country’s impressive track record.
Because Malta was a part of the British Empire for an extended period in the past, its cultural norms are significantly different from those of most of the countries mentioned in this article.
For example, driving on the left side of the road is considered more important than going in any other lane.
Because there are not enough highways in its infrastructure, there are not many opportunities to put the pedal to the metal, even though some people claim that the condition of their roads is not very good.
1. Norvège
The first place currently belongs to Norway, with preliminary data from 2021 showing 16 people per million inhabitants.
It is a safe assumption to make that the country’s population will not even crazily take the car during the winter, when it is tough to drive because of the snow that covers its roads, to present these statistics.
However, when taken in conjunction with the speed limits that the relevant authorities have imposed, it all makes perfect sense.
Except for urban areas and the central places of its towns and cities, which in their case set it at 50 km/h, the maximum speed at which you are allowed to drive on its roads is 80 kilometers per hour on a general level.
The speed limit in some residential areas is as low as 30 kilometers per hour, whereas, on highways and freeways, it is 110 kilometers per hour.
¿Did you like the content?
