According to figures published by the European Commission, Luxembourg was just within the EU average of 49 deaths per 1 million inhabitants.

Data shows that the proportion fell 25% from 2010 when there were 64 deaths per million inhabitants. And, it marks a substantial improvement on 1991 when there were 216 deaths per 1 million inhabitants.

The European Commission reported a total 25,300 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2017, 6,200 (20%) fewer than in 2000. At the same time, 135,000 people were seriously injured. While it said the downward trend was encouraging, it will be challenging to reach the target of halving road fatalities and injuries by 2020. The commission is currently working on a series of concrete measures aimed at saving more lives on the EU’s roads, more information about which will be published in the coming weeks.

Luxembourg measures

Luxembourg has introduced a number of measures aimed at reducing road fatalities and injuries. These include regular police controls, the introduction of speed cameras in 2016, lowering speed limits in urban areas and increasing penalties for driving offences.

Last year, an infrastructure ministry spokesperson said the ministry was compiling a feasibility report on lowering the speed limit from 90 to 80km/h on certain sections of roads. In 2016, speeding accounted for 35% of fatalities on Luxembourg’s roads and a third of serious injuries.