Record low number of road deaths in first half of this year, including on highways

In the first six months of 2024, Belgium recorded its lowest number of road fatalities ever, with 198 deaths. According to the quarterly Road Safety Barometer from the Vias traffic safety institute, based on federal police data, the decline extends to highways, possibly due to the expansion of speed cameras on Wallonian highways and increased traffic congestion in Flanders.

Overall, road deaths dropped by 12% compared to the same period last year, falling from 226 to 198. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when traffic was restricted, the numbers were higher. While injury-related accidents also decreased, the drop was less significant, with a 4% decline from 17,948 to 17,157 incidents. The number of injured persons fell by 3%, from 21,675 to 21,002.

In Flanders the road fatalities fell from 121 to 104, while in Wallonia there was a drop from 100 to 93. In Brussels, one person was killed in traffic. ​ 

Vias highlighted the record-low highway deaths, which dropped from 37 last year and 57 before the pandemic, to 23 this year. The institute attributed this to several factors, including speed controls on Walloon highways and growing congestion on Flemish roads. Modern company cars equipped with advanced driver assistance systems, like intelligent speed assistance and collision warnings, also contributed to the reduction, as did the cautious driving habits of electric vehicle drivers seeking to conserve battery power.

Despite the positive trend, Vias warns that the figures for the rest of the year need to be assessed before drawing any final conclusions. “There is still much work to be done to achieve the target of 320 road deaths per year by 2030,” the institute noted.

^{A traffic jam due to a truck accident © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}