COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Romania 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, Romania, 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) 55 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Romania 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) 51 final} - {SWD(2026) 52 final} - {SWD(2026) 53 final} - {SWD(2026) 54 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.............................................................................................. 3 

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. Monitoring Road Safety Strategy Implementation ............................................................ 7 

4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

Implementing progress........................................................................................... 7 

 Best practices ........................................................................................................ 7 

 Gaps ...................................................................................................................... 7 

5. Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................. 7 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Summary 

In 2024, Romania had the highest fatality rate in the EU, with 78 road fatalities per million 
inhabitants (the EU average is 45). Nonetheless, compared to 2019, a decrease of 21% in road 
fatalities was achieved. Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Romania 
shows a relatively high proportion of pedestrian fatalities and fatalities on urban roads.  

In the National Road Safety Strategy of Romania, targets of halving the numbers of road 
fatalities and serious injuries by 2030, compared to 2019, have been set. In addition, 103 
road safety actions are included in the road safety action plan of the same period, which are 
grouped into five pillars. 

Based on the latest available data for 2024, Romania appears to be almost on track to meet 
the 2030 target of halving road fatalities. With regards to serious injuries, Romania collects 
MAIS3+ data only from 2021 and, therefore, no comparison with the baseline can be made.  

2. Road Safety Strategy and Measures 

2.1 Road Safety Strategy 

The National Road Safety Strategy for the period 2022-2030 was approved by the Romania 
Government and published in May 20221, in accordance with the European Commission’s road 
safety  policy  2021-2030,  the  UN  Sustainable  Development  Goals  and  the  Safe  System 
approach.  

An Action Plan for the implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy for the period 
2022-2030, which includes all the actions designed for the entire eight-year period is included 
in the Strategy.  
Also, a national priority programme for the period 2022 - 2024 for the implementation of 
the  Strategy  has  been  defined.  It  includes  the  planned  actions  for  the  first  three  years,  the 
nomination of the responsible entities and the necessary resources for its implementation2. 

Table 24.1: National road safety strategy  

Romania 
2022-2030 
Interministerial Council for Road Safety (CISR) 
https://www.cisr.ro/files/upload-dir/14-strategia-nationala-
siguranta-rutiera-2022-2030.pdf  

Timeframe 
Lead Authority 

Link 

Source: national sources 

1 Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, No. 535 bis/31.V.2022 
2https://www.cisr.ro/files/upload-dir/14-strategia-nationala-siguranta-rutiera-2022-2030.pdf 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.2 Road Safety Governance 

The  Interministerial  Council  for  Road  Safety  is  responsible  for  the  formulation  of  the  road 
safety strategy and the monitoring of road safety developments in the country. 

The  Interministerial  Council  for  Road  Safety  is  established  as  an  advisory  body  to  the 
Government, without legal personality. The members of the Interministerial Council for Road 
Safety are the representatives of the specialized institutions of the central public administration 
with responsibilities in the field of road safety. 

The  Ministry  of  Transport  and  Infrastructure,  through  the  Directorate  for  Road  Transport, 
promotes the road safety strategy for approval by the Government. 

2.3 Main Safety Issues 

According to the National Road Safety Strategy of Romania, and based on the crash statistics 
of 2019, the following main issues arise: 

•  The largest share of fatalities in Romania is represented by pedestrians (39%), while 

the respective EU share is 20% 

•  Between  2010  and  2019,  the  number  of  killed  cyclists  in  road  crashes  increased  by 

19%. 

• 

In 2019, Romania ranked last in the European Union, both in terms of the quality of 
road infrastructure and the number of km of highways per 100,000 inhabitants. 

2.4 Road Safety Targets 

The  following  general  targets  were  set  in  the  National  Road  Safety  Strategy  2022-2030  of 
Romania, in accordance with the objectives of the European Union: 

•  By 2030, a 50% reduction in fatalities, compared to 2019. 

•  By 2030, a 50% reduction in serious injuries, compared to 2019. 

2.5 Road Safety Measures 

A  total  of  103  road  safety  actions  divided  in  five  road  safety  pillars  are  included  in  the 
National Road Safety Strategy for the period 2022-2030 of Romania3.  

3https://www.cisr.ro/files/upload-dir/14-strategia-nationala-siguranta-rutiera-2022-2030.pdf 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 24.2: Road safety activities of the action plan 2022-2030 

Road Safety Pillar 

1.  Road safety management 

2.  Safe Road Use 

3.  Vehicle safety 

4.  Safe Infrastructure 

5. 

Interventions in emergency situations 

Total 

Actions 

8 

55 

7 

25 

8 

103 

3. Road Safety Progress 

3.1 Road Safety Outcomes 

In Romania, in 2023, 1,545 people were killed and 3,536 people were seriously injured in road 
crashes in 2023. Based on preliminary data for 2024, Romania ranked 27th in the EU in terms 
of mortality rates. In fact, 77 road fatalities per million inhabitants were recorded that year, 
which was well above the EU average (44).  

Figure 24.1 Mortality rates by country, 2024  

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

Compared with 2019, which is the baseline, the number of fatalities decreased by 21% in 2024. 
Thus, based on the latest available data, Romania appears to be broadly on track to meet the 
2030 target of halving the number of road fatalities. Regarding serious injuries, from 2021, 
Romania collects MAIS3+ data and, therefore, no comparison with the baseline can be made. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 24.2 Road crash fatalities and target 2030  
(Source CARE database) 4 

Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Romania shows a relatively high 
proportion of pedestrian fatalities and a high proportion of fatalities on urban roads5. In fact, 
pedestrian fatalities account for 31% of all road fatalities in 2023 and fatalities inside urban 
areas account for 65%. 

An overview of the evolution of road fatalities and serious injuries during the period 2019-
2023 (year with the latest available data) is provided below for specific types of roads, crashes 
and road users. Overall, in Romania, road fatalities and serious injuries declined for almost all 
groups examined below, except fatalities in single vehicle crashes and among powered two-
wheeler riders.  

The largest fatality reduction was recorded for pedestrians (35%). The highest reductions in 
serious  injuries  were  recorded  outside  urban  areas  (63%)  and  for  passenger  car  occupants 
(61%). 

4 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. 
5  European  Commission  (2023),  Country  Profile  Romania.  Road  Safety  Observatory.  Brussels,  European 
Commission, Directorate General for Transport. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 24.3: Evolution of road fatalities, 2019-2023 

Fatalities 

Total road fatalities 

Inside urban areas 

Outside urban areas 

Motorways 

Single vehicle crashes 

Multi vehicle crashes 

Car occupants 

 PTW riders 

Cyclists 

Pedestrians 

2019 

1,864 

1,213 

608 

43 

416 

736 

682 

69 

198 

729 

2023 

1,545 

1,007 

502 

36 

445 

643 

677 

95 

160 

472 

%  
in 2023 

% change 
2019-2023 

- 

65% 

32% 

2% 

29% 

42% 

44% 

6% 

10% 

31% 

-17% 

-17% 

-17% 

-16% 

+7% 

-13% 

-1% 

+38% 

-19% 

-35% 

3.2 Road Safety Performance Indicators 

Romania has one of the oldest passenger car fleets in the EU, with an average of 15 years. 

Table 24.4: Road Safety Performance Indicators, 2022 or latest available year (Source: 
ERSO, Country Profiles) 

Romania 

EU 

Speeding6 
% of passenger cars travelling within speed limits a, b 

Motorways 
Rural Roads 
Urban Roads  

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

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

Helmet use rates (%) a, b  

- 
- 
- 

65.6 
42.2 
66.7 
63.0 

PTW driver 
PTW passenger 
Cyclist 

95.3 
93.5 
13.4 
DUI of Alcohold                                                                                                           - 
(self-reported) 

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

Driver Distraction a, b 

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

- 

94.6 

- 
- 

93.1 
75.3 
67.0 
- 

97.0 
94.4 
37.8 

11.8 

94.8 

6 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 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vehicle Safety 

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

- 

15.4 

83.6 

12.5 

Sources: aTrendline proiect (2024), b Baseline project, c ETSC (2022), d ESRA3 project (2024), e ACEA (2025) 

Romania 

EU 

4. Monitoring Road Safety Strategy Implementation 

This section is based on the self-assessment provided by the country. Since Romania did not 
provide a self-assessment, this section is left intentionally empty.   

4.1 

Implementing progress 

4.2   Best practices 

4.3   Gaps 

5. Conclusions and Recommendations 

In the national road safety strategy for the period 2022-2030 of Romania, targets of halving 
the numbers of road fatalities and serious injuries by 2030, compared to 2019, have been 
set. A total of 103 road safety actions grouped into five pillars are included in the road safety 
action plan for the same period.  

In 2024, Romania, with 78 road fatalities per million inhabitants, was the country with the 
lowest road safety performance in the EU. Compared to the EU average, the distribution of 
fatalities in Romania shows a relatively high proportion of pedestrian fatalities and fatalities 
occurring on urban roads. 

Among  the  contributing  factors  to  the  high  road  death  rates  are  the  poor  state  of  the 
infrastructure, excessive speed and mixed traffic (several road user groups sharing the road). 
There is a lack of automatic speed enforcement and a legal framework for its establishment, 
operation  and  maintenance.  Furthermore,  traffic-calming  measures  and  separate  paths  for 
vulnerable road users (e.g. sidewalks) are reportedly not sufficiently developed or even missing 
completely. 

However, between 2019 and 2024, a decrease of 21% in road fatalities was recorded. Thus, 
Romania appears to be almost on track to meet the 2030 target of halving road fatalities. 
More action is needed to reduce the high number of fatalities and bridge the gap with the better 
performing countries in the EU. With regards to serious injuries, Romania collects MAIS3+ 
data from 2021 only and, therefore, no comparison with the baseline can be made.  

7