Latvia has been ranked as having the EU's highest quotient of reckless drivers, tallying with high road fatality rates of 75 deaths per million people each year and alarming levels of phone usage while driving.
That’s according to a new study by motorway toll seller Vignetteswitzerland.com that analysed six key metrics, including road fatality rates, drunk driving, speeding on freeways, driving while sleepy, phone use while driving, and not wearing a seatbelt.
Austria ranks second in the EU, with 22.1% of drivers admitting to driving after consuming alcohol. Greece rounds out the top three, with nearly 28% of its drivers failing to wear seatbelts — the highest rate in the EU.
The data were gathered from the European Commission's official road fatality statistics and the Vias Institute's E-Survey of Road Users' Attitudes (ESRA).
Finnish drivers have also shown some concerning behaviours, with over 40% talking on hand-held phones while driving — the highest rate among the countries surveyed. In Luxembourg, nearly four in 10 drivers admit to driving after consuming alcohol.
"What's particularly alarming is that in countries like Luxembourg and Finland — nations known for their high standards of living and infrastructure — we're seeing extremely high rates of specific dangerous behaviours," said Mattijs Wijnmalen, CEO of Vignette Switzerland.
By contrast, Sweden has the lowest road fatality rate in Europe, with just 22 deaths per million inhabitants — significantly below the European average.
What is the European Commission's insight?
Despite these results, the European Commission reported a 3% year-on-year drop in EU road fatalities in 2024, reflecting 600 fewer lives lost across the bloc.
However, the Commission believes this decline remains insufficient.
"The overall pace of improvement remains too slow, and most Member States are not on track to meet the EU's goal of halving road deaths by 2030," said a press release published on 18 March.
According to the Commission, rural roads continue to present the greatest risk, accounting for 52% of fatalities.
Men represent the majority of road deaths (77%), while older adults (65+) and young people (18-24) are particularly vulnerable road users.
Among different types of road users, car occupants account for the largest share of fatalities, followed by motorcyclists (20%), pedestrians (18%), and cyclists (10%).
Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, make up nearly 70% of urban fatalities.
