On the road: fewer deaths, more injuries

The Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, in collaboration with the Grand Ducal Police, the Technical Investigation Department and Statec, has published the 2023 road accident figures.

Fewer road deaths

This new report shows a 28% fall in the number of deaths over the year. In detail, 26 people were killed on the country’s roads last year, compared with 36 the year before. Over a ten-year period, this represents a reduction of 42%, since 2013 saw 45 road deaths.

On the other hand, the number of people injured is rising. Last year, the authorities recorded a 30% year-on-year increase, with 347 people seriously injured (compared with 267 in 2022). Slightly fewer people were injured, down 5% from 1,144 to 1,087. Compared with 2013, however, the figures are up 10% for serious injuries and 16% for minor injuries.

According to the authorities, speed remains the main cause of accidents, with almost one in two deaths attributable to speeding.

“Speed remains the dominant cause of road accidents, followed for the first time by failure to give way and crossing the safety line. According to the statistics, 22% of serious injuries and 42% of deaths in 2023 were attributable to excessive or inappropriate speed”, stated the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works in its report.

After speeding and failure to give way to pedestrians, the main factor in fatal and serious accidents was failure to observe the highway code.

Drink-driving continues to take its toll. In 2023, Luxembourg recorded 8 fatal accidents and 39 serious accidents involving driving under the influence of alcohol. “While the total number of fatal accidents has fallen slightly, it should be noted that in half of the fatal accidents – not involving motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians – the driver was driving under the influence of a legal or illegal substance at a level above the legal limit”, the ministry said. It should be noted that collisions with animals caused 2 serious injuries last year.

Five motorcyclists lost their lives

In terms of the type of user, motorists (in terms of numbers) continue to be the hardest hit by accidents. Last year, 13 motorists lost their lives and 142 people were seriously injured. In addition, two people died in vans. Then there were two-wheelers, with 5 fatalities and 94 seriously injured. As for soft mobility, two cyclists and 4 pedestrians also lost their lives last year.

“Fatalities on our roads continue to fall, which is an encouraging trend that we must reinforce through our actions. However, the figures for serious accidents continue to show a worrying trend. It is therefore vital that we do more to tackle all forms of dangerous driving behaviour, including distraction. This is why I am currently working with my teams on a safety action plan in line with the government’s priorities, which I intend to discuss with the various stakeholders over the coming months”, emphasised the Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Yuriko Backes.

Summer, the most accident-prone period

In terms of location, 54% of fatal accidents took place on secondary roads outside built-up areas and urban zones. 29% of fatalities occurred in urban areas and 17% on motorways.

For those seriously injured, 52% were hit in the flesh in urban areas and 41% outside built-up areas. Only 6% were seriously injured on the motorway.

Finally, again according to the authorities’ analysis, the highest number of accidents last year occurred in summer, followed by autumn, spring and winter. It should be noted that winter and autumn saw the highest number of accidents involving pedestrians. This is partly due to reduced visibility in winter, with a shorter period of daylight. It should also be noted that only 25% of fatal accidents and 27% of serious accidents took place on wet surfaces. In all, only 4.3% of serious accidents took place on difficult surfaces (oil stains, black ice, snow, fallen leaves and aquaplaning).

Finally, in a European comparison of the number of road deaths, Luxembourg is above average, with 39 deaths per million inhabitants in 2023. With just 22 deaths per million inhabitants, Sweden leads the way, ahead of Malta (26 deaths) and Denmark (27 deaths). The European average is 46 deaths per million population. Among our neighbours, Germany is in fifth place with 34 deaths per million inhabitants. Belgium (43 deaths) is twelfth and France (48 deaths) seventeenth.

The detailed report from the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works
The simplified report from the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works