2 minute read / April 21, 2026
A landmark report published by ETSC (European Transport Safety Council) reveals that cyclist deaths across the European Union have barely declined over the past decade – even as deaths among car occupants have fallen at four times the rate. The report calls for urgent action on motor vehicle speed reduction and separated cycling infrastructure to close a widening safety gap.
In 2024, 1,926 cyclists were killed on EU roads. Over the decade from 2014 to 2024, cyclist deaths fell by just 8% – an average annual reduction of only 0.5%. By stark contrast, deaths among motorised road users fell at an annual rate of 2%, four times faster.
To meet the EU’s 2030 target of halving road deaths, an overall annual reduction of 6.5% would be required – thirteen times the current rate of progress for cyclists. Cyclists now account for 10% of all road deaths in the EU. Without serious safety improvements this proportion will grow.
Police-reported serious injuries among cyclists increased by 12% over the same period. Hospital data suggest the true scale is far higher, with fewer than 10% of injured cyclists appearing in police statistics in some countries.
The report makes clear where the greatest danger lies: 65% of cyclist deaths in the EU result from collisions with motor vehicles. Passenger car collisions account for 44% of cyclist deaths, with heavy goods vehicles (9%) and vans (7%) also contributing significantly.
ETSC is calling on national governments and the European Commission to make speed reduction a priority. Lower motor vehicle speeds are one of the most effective measures available to protect cyclists: the risk of death for a cyclist hit at 50 km/h is many times higher than at 30 km/h.
