COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Malta Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Report on the Implementation of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework at the Mid-Point
Date: 2026-02-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Subjects: EU investment, Malta, accident prevention, common transport policy, innovation, road safety, road transport, transport accident, transport infrastructure, transport statistics

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 13.2.2026  SWD(2026) 51 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Malta Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Report on the Implementation of the EU Road Safety Policy Framework at the Mid-Point {COM(2026) 77 final} - {SWD(2026) 33 final} - {SWD(2026) 34 final} - {SWD(2026) 35 final} - {SWD(2026) 36 final} - {SWD(2026) 37 final} - {SWD(2026) 38 final} - {SWD(2026) 39 final} - {SWD(2026) 40 final} - {SWD(2026) 41 final} - {SWD(2026) 42 final} - {SWD(2026) 43 final} - {SWD(2026) 44 final} - {SWD(2026) 45 final} - {SWD(2026) 46 final} - {SWD(2026) 47 final} - {SWD(2026) 48 final} - {SWD(2026) 49 final} - {SWD(2026) 50 final} - {SWD(2026) 52 final} - {SWD(2026) 53 final} - {SWD(2026) 54 final} - {SWD(2026) 55 final} - {SWD(2026) 56 final} - {SWD(2026) 57 final} - {SWD(2026) 58 final} - {SWD(2026) 59 final}  
 
 
Contents 

1. Summary .................................................................................................................... 2 

2. Road Safety Strategy and Measures .......................................................................... 2 

2.1 Road Safety Strategy............................................................................................ 2 

2.2 Road Safety Governance...................................................................................... 2 

2.3 Main Safety Issues ............................................................................................... 3 

2.4 Road Safety Targets ............................................................................................. 3 

2.5 Road Safety Measures.......................................................................................... 3 

3. Road Safety Progress ................................................................................................. 4 

3.1 Road Safety Outcomes ......................................................................................... 4 

3.2 Road Safety Performance Indicators ................................................................... 6 

4. Conclusions and Recommendations .......................................................................... 7 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Summary 

In 2024, Malta was well below the EU average (45), with 21 fatalities per million inhabitants. 
Compared to 2019, a decrease of 25% in road fatalities was achieved. In 2024, 373 people were 
seriously injured, which is 22% higher than the respective figure in 2019. 

In Malta, the majority of fatalities and serious injuries result from  crashes occurring  on the 
arterial and distributor road network. Also, the majority of casualties were recorded in the 25-
39 years old age group and a significant proportion of fatalities involves motorcyclists. 

In the Road Safety  Strategy of Malta, the  targets  of halving road fatalities  and reducing 
serious injuries by 30% in 2024 have been set. Also, an additional target of reducing slight 
injuries by 20% has been defined. Overall, 75 road safety actions are included in the strategy, 
which are grouped into five strategic areas. 

Based on the latest available data, Malta is on track to meet the 50% fatality target for 2030 
even if it did not meet its own interim target for 20241. 

2. Road Safety Strategy and Measures 

2.1 Road Safety Strategy 

The National Road Safety Strategy for the decade 2014-2024 sets out a 10-year direction 
for a safer land transport system. In the development of the strategy, the detailed analysis of 
the  statistics  and  past  experience  played  a  major  role  in  identifying  the  key  roads  safety 
challenges and outlining the way forward. 

An action plan is also included in the strategy, which aims to address road safety in a holistic 
manner, taking into account aspects related to Enforcement, Engineering, Education and Safer 
Vehicles.  

The next ten-year strategy, covering the period 2025-2035, is under preparation. 

Table 20.1: National road safety strategy  

Timeframe 
Lead Authority 

Link 

Malta 
2014-2024 
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure 

https://www.transport.gov.mt/include/filestreaming.asp?fileid=8147 

2.2 Road Safety Governance 

Ministry 

and  
The 
Public  Works,  Transport  Malta,  and  the  Malta  Road  Safety  Council  are  responsible  for  the 
formulation of the national road safety strategy.  

Infrastructure 

Transport, 

for 

1  The  annual  number  of  deaths  in  Malta  are  particularly  small  and,  therefore,  subject  to  substantial  annual 
fluctuations. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transport Malta and the Malta Road Safety Council are responsible for the monitoring of road 
safety developments in the country. 

2.3 Main Safety Issues 

According to the National Road Safety Strategy of Malta, and based on statistics up to 2012, 
the  following  main  issues  had  arisen,  which  also  formed  some  of  the  main  road  safety 
challenges to be addressed in the decade 2014-2024: 

•  The  majority  of  fatalities  and  serious  injuries  result  from  crashes  occurring  on  the 

arterial and distributor road network. 

•  The majority of casualties were recorded in the 25-39 years old age group. 
•  A significant proportion of fatalities involves motorcyclists. 
•  The  number  of  roadside  alcohol  tests  carried  out  in  Malta  is  considerably  low, 

compared with other EU countries. 

2.4 Road Safety Targets 

The following general targets have been set at the Road Safety Strategy 2014-2024 of Malta: 

•  By 2024, a 50% reduction in fatalities, compared to 2014. 

•  By 2024, a 30% reduction in serious injuries, compared to 2014. 

•  By 2024, a 20% reduction in slight injuries, compared to 2014. 

2.5 Road Safety Measures 

A total of 75 road safety actions divided in five strategic areas are included in the road safety 
strategy 2014-2024 of Malta2. For each strategic area, specific indicators have been defined to 
monitor progress.  

2 https://www.transport.gov.mt/include/filestreaming.asp?fileid=8147  

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 20.2: Road safety actions of the road safety strategy  

Strategic Area 

1.  Engineering 

-  Safer Roads 

-  Safer Speeds 

2.  Enforcement 

3.  Safer Vehicles 

4.  Education 

-  Safer Road Users 
-  Motorcyclists,  Pedestrians,  Children 

and the Elderly 

5.  Policy Implementation 

Total 

Actions 

11 

6 

12 

7 

18 

14 

7 

75 

3. Road Safety Progress 

3.1 Road Safety Outcomes 

Based on data for 2024, Malta ranked 2nd out of the 27 EU countries in terms of the lowest 
numbers of fatalities per million inhabitants. In fact, 21 road fatalities per million inhabitants 
were recorded that year, which is well below the EU average (45). In 2024, 373 people were 
seriously injured in road crashes. 

Figure 20.1 Mortality rates by country, 2024  

Sources: CARE database on road crashes; population data from Eurostat (online data code demo_pjan). 

Compared to 2014, which is the baseline year for Malta, the number of fatalities increased by 
20% in 2024 and the number of serious injuries increased by 28% in 2024. It should be noted 
that the actual numbers of road fatalities in Malta are small and therefore subject to substantial 
annual fluctuations.  

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Based on the latest available data, Malta is on track to meeting the 50% fatality target for 
2030 even if it did not meet its own interim target for 2024.  

Figure 20.2 Road fatalities and target 2030  
(Source CARE database)  3 

Figure 20.3 Serious road injuries3, 4  
(Source: CARE database)  

3 It is noted that the global COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the CARE data for 2020 and 2021 for many 
European countries. Traffic volumes dropped sharply during the pandemic due to traffic restrictions, which was 
associated with a significant drop in road traffic crashes and fatalities. Figures for 2024 were provided by the 
Maltese authorities.  
4 Malta does not currently use the MAIS3+ system of classifying the severity of injuries from crashes. The national 
equivalent “Grievous Injury”, which is taken the legal definition in the Maltese criminal code, is broader in scope 
and includes certain types of injuries with severity less than MAIS3+. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
An  overview  of  the  evolution  of  road  crash  fatalities  and  serious  injuries  during  the  period 
2019-2024 (year with the latest available data) is provided below for specific types of roads, 
crashes  and  road  users.  Overall,  in  Malta,  road  crash  fatalities  decreased  for  most  groups 
examined  below.  The  total  number  of  fatalities  decreased  by  25%  (albeit  based  on  small 
absolute  numbers).  The  number  of  serious  injuries  however  increased  by  22%,  showing  an 
increase in most groups except for car occupants. The number of seriously injured riders of 
powered two-wheelers recorded the highest increase over this period. 

Table 20.3: Evolution of road fatalities, 2019-2024 

Fatalities 

Total road fatalities 

Inside urban areas 

Outside urban areas 

Motorways 

Single vehicle crashes 

Multi vehicle crashes 

Car occupants 

PTW riders 

Cyclists 

Pedestrians 

2019 

16 

- 

- 

- 

7 

8 

7 

4 

0 

5 

2024 

%  
in 2024 

12 

- 

- 

- 

11 

1 

3 

3 

0 

4 

- 

- 

- 

- 

92% 

8% 

25% 

25% 

0% 

33% 

Table 20.4: Evolution of serious injuries, 2019-2024 

Serious Injuries 

Total serious injuries 

Inside urban areas 

Outside urban areas 

Motorways 

Single vehicle crashes 

Multi vehicle crashes 

Car occupants 

PTW riders 

Cyclists 

Pedestrians 

2019 

305 

- 

- 

- 

157 

128 

95 

101 

8 

89 

2024 

373 

- 

- 

- 

203 

170 

79 

165 

7 

89 

%  
in 2024 

- 

- 

- 

- 

54% 

46% 

21% 

44% 

2% 

24% 

% change 
2019-2024 

-25% 

- 

- 

- 

+57% 

-88% 

-57% 

-25% 

- 

-20% 

% change 
2019-2024 

+22% 

- 

- 

- 

+29% 

+33% 

-17% 

+63% 

-13% 

0% 

3.2 Road Safety Performance Indicators 

Helmet use rates for cyclists in Malta are substantially higher than observed in the EU.  

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 20.5: Road Safety Performance Indicators, 2022 or latest available year (Source: 
ERSO, Country Profiles) 

Malta 

EU 

Speeding5 
% of passenger cars travelling within speed limits a 

Motorways6 
Rural Roads 
Urban Roads  

Seat belt & CRS use rates (%) a,b  

Front 
Rear 
Child restraint systems (roadside observations) 
Child restraint systems (in-vehicle inspections) 

Helmet use rates (%) a  

PTW driver 
PTW passenger 
Cyclist 

DUI of Alcoholc 
(self-reported) 

% of car drivers who have driven at least once in the 
last 30 days over the legal limit 

Driver Distraction a 

% of drivers not using hand-held mobile device/phone 
while driving 

Vehicle Safety 

% of new passenger cars rated with 4 EuroNCAP stars 
and above a 
Average age of passenger car fleet (years)d 

- 
74.0 
70.0 

- 
- 
- 
- 

99.8 
97.0 
80.9 

- 

93.0 

89.2 

- 

- 
- 

93.1 
75.3 
67.0 
- 

97.0 
94.4 
37.8 

11.8 

94.8 

83.6 

12.3 

Sources: a Baseline and Trendline projects, b ETSC (2022), c ESRA3 project (2024), d ACEA (2024, 2025). 

4. Conclusions and Recommendations 

In the national road safety strategy for the decade 2014-2024 of Malta, the targets of halving 
the number of road fatalities and reducing serious injuries by 30% in 2024, compared to 
2014, have been set. Also, an additional target of reducing slight serious injuries by 20% has 
been defined. A total of 75 road safety actions grouped into five strategic areas are included in 
the safety action plan, part of the strategy.  

In 2024, Malta, with 21 road fatalities per million inhabitants, ranked  2nd out of the 27 EU 
countries in terms road mortality. Between 2019 and 2024, a 25% decrease in road fatalities 
was  achieved  (albeit  based  on  small  absolute  numbers),  while  serious  injuries  increased  by 
22% during the period 2019-2024. The number  of seriously  injured riders  of powered two-
wheelers recorded the highest increase over this period. 

Compared  to  2014,  which  is  the  baseline  year  in  the  road  safety  strategy,  the  number  of 
fatalities increased by 20% in 2024 and the number of serious injuries increased by 28% in 

5 An EU average is not available for speeding, due to different legal speed limits among countries, which does not 
allow for a straightforward comparison.  
6 Malta has no motorways. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2024. Thus, while Malta did not meet its own interim target for 2024, it is on track to meeting 
the 50% fatality target for 2030. 

8