COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Germany 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, Germany, 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) 43 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Monitoring Road Safety Progress in the EU - Germany 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) 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) 55 final} - {SWD(2026) 56 final} - {SWD(2026) 57 final} - {SWD(2026) 58 final} - {SWD(2026) 59 final}  
 
 
Contents 

1. 

2. 

2.1 

2.2 

Summary ............................................................................................................ 2 

Road Safety Strategy and Measures .................................................................. 3 

Road Safety Strategy...................................................................................... 3 

Road Safety Governance................................................................................ 3 

2.3  Main Safety Issues ......................................................................................... 4 

2.4 

2.5 

Road Safety Targets ....................................................................................... 4 

Road Safety Measures.................................................................................... 4 

3. 

Road Safety Progress ......................................................................................... 5 

3.1 

3.2 

Road Safety Outcomes ................................................................................... 5 

Road Safety Performance Indicators ............................................................. 7 

4. 

Monitoring Road Safety Programme Implementation ....................................... 8 

4.1 

4.2 

Implementation Progress ............................................................................... 8 

Best Practices ............................................................................................... 11 

5. 

Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 15 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany 

1. 

Summary 

In 2024, Germany was among the better performing countries in the EU with 33 fatalities 
per  million  inhabitants  against  the  EU  average  of  45  per  million.  Between  2019-2024,  the 
number of fatalities decreased by 9% while the number of serious injuries decreased by 22%. 
Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Germany shows a relatively high 
proportion of cyclists, especially inside urban areas, and fatalities of those aged 65 and over. 

In the Road Safety Strategy 2030 of Germany, the target of reducing road fatalities in 2030 
by 40% has been set. Also, there is a goal of a significant reduction of serious injuries in 2030, 
without setting a percentage target for this decline. 

The Road Safety Strategy of Germany has defined a set of road safety priorities for the decade 
2021-2030 based on the progress of the previous years and the future challenges. Considering 
these  priorities,  a  wide  range  of  over  150  measures  have  been  defined  in  the  Road  Safety 
Programme, assigned in 12 fields of actions.  

Regarding the progress of the implementation of the road safety actions foreseen in the national 
Road Safety Programme for the period 2021-2024, there is a smooth implementation flow 
without any particular gaps being reported. Based on the self-reported assessment, Germany 
starts from a high level in most examined road safety areas. The baseline is assessed as medium 
for 6 out of the 26 road safety areas: Vulnerable Road Users, Professional drivers, Monitoring 
speeding, City Mobility & Safety Plans, Urban infrastructure for VRUs and Rural Roads Safety 
Interventions. 

In total 179 measures (including 55 sub-measures) have been planned for the examined period, 
some  of  them  being  relevant  to  more  than  one  pillar.  In  2024,  the  majority  of  the  planned 
measures is on track.  

Examples of best practices are available for Germany, which cover all pillars. In relation to 
road  safety  management,  Germany  highlights  the  idea  of  the  shared  responsibility  for  road 
safety, with the Road Safety Pact being a good example. Legislative changes and the biennial 
monitoring report on road safety progress are also presented as best practices. Additionally, 
mFUND  and  Urban  Traffic  Research  Programme  (FoPS)  are  among  the  examples  of  best 
practice  in  promoting  research  and  development  projects  for  road  safety  purposes.  With  its 
interdisciplinary research programmes, the Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute 
(BASt) contributes to continuing the successful road safety work in Germany and to tapping 
into new safety potential. 

A series of best practices focusses on the promotion of safe cycling in Germany. The National 
Cycling Plan 3.0 has been developed to further promote cycling in Germany, measures related 
to the provision of more attractive and safer infrastructure for bicycles have been considered, 
while virtual technology has been used in order to raise awareness in safety issues related to 
the road traffic between car drivers and cyclists.  

New  technologies  are  promoted  and  applied  at  all  levels  in  Germany  as  well.  Thus,  best 
practices  in  the  promotion  of  ADAS  and  the  update  of  vehicle  fleet,  as  well  as  for  the 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
automation preparation are available. An innovative application in the field of connected and 
automated driving and intelligent infrastructure has been established, which paves the way for 
future developments, while intelligent connectivity is applied for the most efficient provision 
of post-crash care. 

Furthermore,  a  series  of  campaigns,  concerning  speeding,  young  drivers  and  two-wheelers 
(motorised or not), are presented among the best practices in Germany. 

The implementation of the foreseen actions appears well on track, however the overall road 
safety performance (number of fatalities) is making slow progress towards the targets set 
for  this  period.  To  address  this  issue,  Germany  is  carrying  out  an  analysis  with  a  view  to 
defining the focus areas for the future implementation of the Road Safety Programme. 

2. 

 Road Safety Strategy and Measures 

2.1  Road Safety Strategy 

The Road Safety Strategy of Germany for the decade 2021-2030 was adopted by the Federal 
and State Governments at the Transport Ministers' Conference on October 14/15, 2020. The 
municipal  associations  also  endorsed  the  Strategy  with  the  resolution  in  the  Alliance  for 
Modern Mobility on November 18, 2020. 

This  joint  strategy  is  based  on  the  political  commitment  contained  in  the  2018  coalition 
agreement to introduce “Vision Zero” as a guiding principle for road safety work. It is also 
embedded in international and European activities and builds on the UN resolution "Improving 
global road safety", the Valletta Declaration on road safety and the EU policy framework for 
road safety for the period 2021 to 2030 - next steps towards the European Union's "Vision Zero 
Road Fatalities". 

The Road Safety Programme 2021 to 2030 is the Federal Government's contribution to this 
strategy. It is highlighted that the programme has not been conceived as a rigid plan, but as a 
living and learning process that is to be continuously reviewed and adapted. 

Table 12.1: National road safety programme  

Timeframe 
Lead Authority 

Link 

Germany 
2021-2030 
Ministry for Digital and Transport with assistance from BASt 

https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/StV/broschuere-
verkehrssicherheitsprogramm-2021-bis-2030.pdf?__blob=publicationFile 

2.2  Road Safety Governance 

The Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV), former Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport 
(BMDV), is responsible for the formulation of the national Road Safety Programme.  

Also,  the  BMV,  the  BASt  and  the  Federal  Statistical  Office  (StBA)  are  responsible  for  the 
monitoring of road safety developments in the country. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.3  Main Safety Issues 

Based on the progress achieved and the future challenges, a series of priorities have been set 
in the Road Safety Programme of Germany for the beginning of the decade 2021-2030. These 
priorities  form  the  basis  for  the  definition  of  road  safety  actions  and  measures  for  the  next 
decade1: 

Improving road infrastructure – in existing and new infrastructure 

•  Automated and connected driving 
•  Market penetration and acceptance of driver systems 
• 
•  Road safety in the context of cycling initiative 
•  Future-oriented development of the in-depth accident analysis 
•  Road Safety Programme – Living and Learning 
•  Cultural change in road traffic 
•  Correct behaviour in traffic – now and in the future 
•  Training and further education 
•  Common strategy and commitments 
•  Pedestrian traffic strategy 
•  Serious injuries in road traffic 

2.4  Road Safety Targets 

The following targets have been set at the National Road Safety Strategy 2030 of Germany: 

•  By 2030, a 40% reduction in fatalities  

•  By 2030, a significant reduction in serious injuries 

2.5  Road Safety Measures 

A total of 179 federal road safety measures (including 55 sub measures) divided in twelve 
fields of actions are included in the Road Safety Programme of Germany1. In practice, some 
of these measures are further divided into more detailed sub-measures. 

Table 12.2: Road safety fields of actions and number of measures 

Field of Actions 
1.  Safe 

- 
Responsibility, everyone joins in 
2.  Sustainable guidelines and regulations 

mobility 

everyone 

bears 

Improving the traffic climate 

3. 
4.  Existing  and  effective  measures:  Promote, 

improve  and 

implement them across the board 

5.  Future technology, automation and digitalisation 

6.  Freight transport and logistics 

Measures 

24 

15 

7 

24 

26 

9 

1 Verkehrssicherheitsprogramm Der Bundesregierung 2021 bis 2030, Bundesministerium für Verkehr und 
digitale Infrastruktur, June 2021. Available at: https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/StV/broschuere-
verkehrssicherheitsprogramm-2021-bis-2030.pdf?__blob=publicationFile 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Field of Actions 

7.  For safe cycling 

8.  Mobility of children and young people 

9.  Safe pedestrian traffic and participation for all 

10.  Motorcycling 

11.  Learning in a changing world of mobility 

12.  Minimise the consequences of a crash 

Total 

3. 

 Road Safety Progress 

3.1  Road Safety Outcomes 

Measures 

15 

6 

10 

9 

17 

17 

179 

In Germany, 2,770 people were killed and 50,601 people were seriously injured in road crashes 
in 2024. Based on data for 2024, Germany ranked 9th out of the 27 EU countries in terms of 
the lowest numbers of fatalities per million inhabitants. In fact, 33 road fatalities per million 
inhabitants were recorded in 2024, which is well below the EU average (45).  

Figure 12.1 Mortality rates by country, 2024  

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

Compared  to  2019,  a  decrease  of  9%  in  road  fatalities  was  recorded  in  2024,  meaning  that 
Germany is currently not on track for the 2030 target of reducing road fatalities.  Over the 
same period, the number of serious injuries declined by 22%.  

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 12.2 Road fatalities and target 2030  
(Source CARE database) 2 

Figure 12.3 Serious road injuries  
(Source: CARE database)   

57.727

55.137

52.902

s
e
i
r
u
j
n
I

s
u
o
i
r
e
S

80.000

70.000

60.000

50.000

40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

0

Serious Injuries

Compared to the EU average, the distribution of fatalities in Germany shows a relatively high 
proportion of cyclists, especially inside urban areas, and fatalities aged 65 and over3. In fact, 

2 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. 
3  European  Commission  (2023),  Country  Profile  Germany.  Road  Safety  Observatory.  Brussels,  European 
Commission, Directorate General for Transport. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
16% of killed people in road crashes were riding a bicycle in 2024. 

An overview of the evolution of road fatalities and serious injuries during the period 2019-
2024 is provided below for specific types of roads, crashes and road users. Overall, in Germany, 
road crash fatalities and serious injuries declined for almost all groups examined below. Only 
the number of killed cyclists remained stable.  

It  is  also  noted  that  the number  of  seriously  injured  cyclists  decreased  to  a  lesser  extent 
compared to the other road user types (8% compared to 22% decrease in total serious injuries). 

Table 12.3: 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 

3,046 

932 

1,758 

356 

899 

1,757 

1,364 

605 

445 

421 

2024 

2,770 

915 

1,517 

284 

864 

1,531 

1,165 

554 

445 

411 

%  
in 2024 

% change 
2019-2024 

- 

33% 

57% 

10% 

31% 

55% 

42% 

20% 

16% 

15% 

-9% 

-2% 

-11% 

-20% 

-4% 

-13% 

-15% 

-8% 

0% 

-2% 

Table 12.4: 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 

65,244 

34,103 

25,308 

5,833 

19,405 

38,632 

28,302 

11,773 

15,176 

6,813 

2024 

50,601 

27,357 

19,325 

3,919 

17,354 

27,932 

18,760 

9,498 

13,919 

5,016 

%  
in 2024 

% change 
2019-2024 

- 

54% 

38% 

8% 

34% 

55% 

37% 

19% 

28% 

10% 

-22% 

-20% 

-24% 

-33% 

-11% 

-28% 

-34% 

-19% 

-8% 

-26% 

3.2  Road Safety Performance Indicators 

Germany performs better than the EU average in relation to seat belt use and driver distraction. 
Additionally,  the  average  age  of  the  passenger  car  fleet  in  Germany  is  lower  than  the  EU 
average. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 12.5: Road Safety Performance Indicators, 2022 – 2025 (Source: ERSO, Country 
Profiles) 

Speeding4 
% of passenger cars travelling within speed limits a 

Motorways 
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) 

Germany 

EU 

2022 

2025 

2022 

2025 

- 
- 
- 

99.2 
96.1 
98.7 
/ 

99.5 
- 
31.7 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
/ 

- 
97.4 
- 

- 
- 
- 

93.1 
75.3 
67.0 
- 

97.0 
94.4 
37.8 

- 
- 
- 

92.4 
69.9 
83.3 
- 

97.6 
97.0 
34.5 

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

- 

- 

11.8 

11.8 

Driver Distraction a 

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

Vehicle Safety 

97.1 

96.9 

94.8 

94.5 

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

- 

10.0 

88.0 

10.3 

83.6 

12.3 

82.7 

12.5 

Sources: a Baseline and Trendline projects, b ETSC (2022), c ESRA3 project (2024), d ACEA (2024, 2025), Notes: 
*2025 data only for weekdays 

4.  Monitoring Road Safety Programme Implementation 

4.1 

Implementation Progress5 

Road Safety Management 

Germany starts from a self-reported high level in all road safety areas related to Road Safety 
Management. 100 of the ongoing or planned measures fall under this pillar. In 2024, most of 
the measures are in progress. 

Table 12.6: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to road 

4 An EU average is not available for speeding, due to different legal speed limits among countries, which does not 
allow for a straightforward comparison.  
5 It is noted that most of the federal road safety measures are relevant to more than one pillar.  

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
safety management 

B1 

Road Safety Management 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

National road safety authority 

National road safety budget 

Road safety legislation 

National road safety observatory6 

Other 

Safe Road User Behaviour 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

high 

high 

high 

high 

high 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

In relation to the pillar of Safe Road User Behaviour, Germany starts from a high level in 
2021  in  the  road  safety  areas  of  enforcement,  education,  training  of  novice  drivers  and 
communication campaigns. The baseline is assessed as medium in the areas of vulnerable road 
users and professional drivers.  

Table 12.7: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to road 
user behaviour 

B2 

Safe Road User Behaviour 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

Enforcement 

Education 

New drivers training 

Communication campaigns 

Measures for vulnerable road users 

Measures for professional drivers 

Other 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 
high 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 
on track 

high 

high 

high 

medium 

medium 

medium 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

In total, 109 measures fall under the pillar of safe road user behaviour. In 2024, most of the 
relevant measures to this pillar are on track. 

Safe Speeds 

Regarding the Safe Speeds pillar, Germany starts from a self-reported high level in all related 
road safety areas, except monitoring of speeding, for which the baseline is assessed as medium. 
In this pillar, 21 measures are included. In 2024, most of the relevant measures to this pillar are 
in progress. 

Table 12.8: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to safe 
speeds 

B3 

Safe Speeds 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

6 It is noted that there is no dedicated "National Road Safety Observatory" in Germany. Related tasks are shared 
between BMV, BASt and StBA. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Update of speed limits 

Enforcing speed limits 

Campaigns on speeding 

Monitoring speeding 

Other 

Safe Roads 

high 

high 

high 

medium 

medium 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

Regarding the Safe Roads pillar, the self-reported baseline assessment is medium in three road 
safety areas: city mobility &safety plans, urban infrastructure for VRUs and rural roads safety 
interventions. The starting level in 2021 for the remaining road safety areas is assessed as high. 
In total, 101 measures are relevant to the pillar of safe roads, with most of them being on track 
in 2024. 

Table 12.9: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to safe 
roads 

B4 

Safe Roads 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

City mobility & safety plans 

Urban infrastructure for VRUs 

Rural roads safety interventions 

Motorways safety management 

Road design standards 

Road safety audit and inspection 

Other 

Safe Vehicles 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

medium 

medium 

medium 

high 

high 

high 

high 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

In relation to the pillar of Safe Vehicles, Germany starts from a high level in all related areas. 
52 measures are relevant to the pillar of safe vehicles. In 2024, most of them are in progress. 

Table 12.10: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to safe 
vehicles 

B5 

Safe Vehicles 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Fleet renewal 

Promotion of ADAS 

Technical vehicle inspection 

Automation preparation 

Other 

Post-Crash Care 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

high 

high 

high 

high 

high 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

on track 

Regarding the Post-Crash Care pillar, Germany also starts from a high level in 2021 in all key 
road  safety  areas.  8  measures  fall  under  the  pillar  of  post-crash  care.  In  2024,  most  of  the 
relevant measures to this pillar are in progress. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 12.11: Self-reported assessment of implementation progress of measures related to 
post crash care 

B6 

Post Crash Care 

1 

2 

3 

Reduce EMS reaction time 

Support people injured 

Other 

4.2  Best Practices 

Baseline 
Assessment (2021) 

Progress 
(2021-2024) 

high 

high 

high 

on track 

on track 

on track 

Numerous best practices are available for Germany. The examples given below are limited to 
the Federal level. For best practices at the state, regional or local level see Road Safety Pact. 

Road Safety Management: 

•  Road Safety Pact: In May 2021, the Federal Government has initiated the Road Safety 
Pact,  together  with  federal  states,  local  authorities  as  well  as  other  partners,  in  the 
context  that  road  safety  is  not  just  the  responsibility  of  policymakers,  but  concerns 
society as a whole and must therefore be addressed by government and society in a joint 
effort. The BMV is responsible for the organization of road safety at the national level 
in  Germany.  With  its  own  Road  Safety  Program,  it  defines  the  goals  and  sets  the 
framework  for  road  safety  work  in  Germany.  Each  of  the  16  German  federal  states 
(Länder)  has  its  own  Ministry  of  Transport.  These  can  formulate  road  safety 
programmes independently and are responsible for improvements in road infrastructure 
at  state  level.  Enforcement  is  the  responsibility  of  each  federal  state.  Additionally, 
municipalities can also develop specific road safety programmes. All these activities 
have an overarching national strategy, that is called “Road Safety Pact” with twelve 
fields/areas of action.  

•  mFUND  promotes  research  and  development  projects  related  to  digital  data-based 
mobility  applications.  Also,  it  brings  together  stakeholders  from  government,  the 
private  sector  and  the  research  community  through  various  networking  formats  and 
events.  The  initiative  targets  founders,  start-ups,  companies,  higher  education 
institutions,  associations,  public  authorities  and  institutions  with  research  and 
development  tasks.  Stakeholders  from  the  EEA  and  Switzerland  may  also  apply  for 
funding. 

•  Unauthorized  use  of  an  emergency  lane:  With  the  amendment  to  the  Schedule  of 
Fines and Penalty Points Regulations that came into force on November 9, 2021, the 
unauthorized  use  of  an  emergency  lane  will  now  be  prosecuted  and  punished  in  the 
same way as the failure to create an emergency lane. There is a risk of fines between 
200 and 320 euros and a one-month driving ban. As a result of these sanctions, two 
points are required to be entered in the register of Driver fitness. 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  Accident Prevention Report: This is a report of the Federal Government on measures 
related to road accident prevention of the previous two-year period. An analysis of the 
road accident statistics in the relevant reporting period is included and the diverse road 
safety  activities  and  current  road  safety  and  research  measures  are  presented, 
considering  the  12  fields  of  actions  of  the  Road  Safety  Pact.  Every  two  years,  this 
comprehensive account of ongoing activities in the field of road safety is submitted to 
the German Bundestag. 

Safe Road User Behaviour: 

•  Education:  The  German  Accident  Prevention  Organization  (DVW)  provides  road 
safety activities in kindergartens with the “Children in Road Traffic” Programme using 
the  learning  by  playing  approach.  Kindergartens  are  given  professional  and 
comprehensive support in their road safety activities by trained volunteers of the DVW. 
Additionally, the “Children and Traffic” by the German Road Safety Council (DVR) 
addresses  parents  to  provide  continuous  road  safety  education.  Children  are  also 
addressed directly – with the "Captain Blaubär” road safety primer, which is redesigned 
each year to cover topical issues from all fields of road safety and distributed to many 
kindergartens and primary schools in Germany. 

•  Young Drivers: The DVW has evolved the “Young Drivers Scheme”, to counteract 
crashes involving young drivers, that occur in the nights from Friday to Saturday and 
from Saturday to Sunday. The events, which are held in schools under the new slogan 
“Young + Safe + Ready to go” as of 2021, are organized by the local crash prevention 
organizations.  Also,  the  accompanied  driving  scheme  from  the  age  of  17  has  been 
introduced. 

•  Track & Safety Days: The Track & Safety Days offer driving safety training courses 
and workshops with tuning experts designed especially for young people and young 
adults enthusiastic about tuning. The events take place at eight driving safety centres 
throughout Germany. In addition to the events, information on safe tuning and the safe 
use of the roads are provided via a website, social media, a 56-page tuning magazine as 
well as further print media. 

•  Road  safety  on  two  wheels:  bicycle,  e-scooter,  motorcycle:  At  the  safe  cycling 
programme days (in German: Verkehrssicherheitstage FahrRad, … aber sicher!) of the 
DVW  answers  to  safety  issues  of  cyclists  are  given.  The  variety  of  topics  is  very 
diverse, ranging from the recommendation to wear a cycle helmet, useful motor skills 
exercises  for  adults  and  children,  a  graphic  illustration  of  the  dangers  of  the  "blind 
spot”, safe equipment of bicycles and the issue of drunk cycling.  In practical exercises 
on the pedelec course or the electric scooter course, visitors are  encouraged to  train 
their motor skills as well as consider possible consequences of risky behaviour. The 
events are held within the framework of sport cycling events and bicycle fairs as well 
as at town fairs and cycle rallies. BMDV has drawn up a leaflet about the safe use of 
pedelecs. Besides the strong recommendation to only use pedelecs with a cycle helmet, 
the leaflet contains valuable advice on exercises to prepare yourself for riding a pedelec 
and tips for a safe participation in motorised road traffic. The BASt has published a 
brochure  with  tips  on  equipping  and  handling  cargo  bikes  from  the  first  test  ride  to 
everyday use.  With its motto “Scooting without risks”, the DVR, with support of the 
Ministry, is raising awareness of the dangers of rule infringements when riding an e-
scooter. The most important rules can be seen, among other things, on stickers and signs 
on the handlebars of the vehicles of rental companies, which are directly in the field of 
vision of the driver. 

•  The  Motorcycle  Industry  Association  (Industrieverband  Motorrad,  IVM),  with  the 

12 

 
 
 
support of the Ministry, is reaching out to motorcyclists and drivers of motor scooters 
via social media. Through these campaign channels, not only safety-related content is 
provided  to  this  target  group,  but  also  an  active  exchange  with  the  community  is 
established.  Also,  the  collaboration  with  the  “Motorcycling?  Sure,  but  stay  safe” 
VivaLaMoped online magazine is very successful. The number of fans of this page is 
even higher than the number of fans of well-known motorcycle magazines. Content on 
safe  driving  and  vehicle  safety  is  illustrated  by  means  of  GIFS  (moving  graphics), 
internet  memes  (internet  in-jokes)  or  cinemagraphs  (still  photographs  in  which  a 
movement repeats itself). . 

•  Virtual Reality for VRUs: In order to tap the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) for road 
safety  work,  "#AUGENBLICKWINKEL360"  was  created  on  behalf  of  the  BASt. 
Embedded in a blended learning concept a VR application is used to raise awareness of 
dangers that can arise in road traffic between cyclists and car drivers. For this purpose, 
three  360°  videos  were  shot  on  typical  conflict  situations  between  car  drivers  and 
cyclists. What they have in common is that the conflict situation is first experienced 
from  the perspective  of  one party, then from  the perspective of the other. Also, this 
technology  is  promoted  among  professional  drivers  in  order  to  increase  blind  spot 
awareness. 

Safe Speeds: 

•  Campaign on speeding: The road safety campaign "Slow Down" is aimed at all road 
users to raise awareness for the dangers caused by risky behaviour on the road. BMDV 
has launched a campaign against rural speeding.  
Increased use of traffic management systems, e.g. route control systems. 

• 
•  Collaborative  research  and  development  efforts  with  OEMs  in  advancing  driver 

assistance systems and automation. 

Safe Roads: 

•  Urban  Traffic  Research  Programme:  The  Urban  Traffic  Research  Programme 
(FoPS) seeks to improve transport conditions in municipalities across the country and 
is  part  of  the  research  portfolio  of  the  Federal  Ministry  for  Transport  (BMV).  Each 
Urban Traffic Research Programme lasts two years and finances academic research into 
traffic problems  that typically occur in  towns and cities. Ideally, the projects  should 
address  widespread  problems,  and  their  findings  should  be  applicable  across  the 
country. 

•  National Cycling Plan 3.0: Under the auspices of the Federal Logistics and Mobility 
Office  (BALM)  as  the  BMV’s  central  project  developer  for  cycling  promotion,  the 
Federal Mobility Forum acts as a knowledge hub and information platform and actively 
contributes to the NCP 3.0’s objective of making Germany a cycling nation by 2030. 
The National Cycling Plan 3.0 is the Federal Government’s global strategy to promote 
cycling in Germany up to 2030. The overarching goal is to make cycling in Germany 
more attractive and safer and significantly increase the number of kilometres travelled 
by  bicycle.  It  defines  four  pillars  of  cycling  promotion:  ‘Politics’,  ‘Infrastructure’, 
‘People’ and ‘Business’ as well as two cross-cutting areas: ‘Digitalization’ and ‘Cities 
and  Rural  Areas’.  On  this  basis,  the  NCP  3.0  specifies  various  qualitative  and 
quantitative  key  objectives  and  gives  extensive  recommendations  for  action  for  the 
Federal Government, federal states, local authorities, associations and industry. In order 
to achieve the goals of the NCP 3.0, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport is 
comprehensively  promoting  cycling  with  various  support  and  funding  programmes, 
which are aimed at different needs for action. 

13 

 
 
 
 
•  Cycle Highways: Cycle highways are cycle paths that are intended for fast, trouble-
free traffic due to their independent traffic importance and special structural standards. 
This makes Cycle highways particularly interesting for urban areas and metropolitan 
regions with a high potential for cycling. They are used to increase commuter traffic by 
bicycle, to avoid traffic jams and to make traffic flow more smoothly. Cycle highways 
can  thus  reduce  negative  traffic  consequences  such  as  noise  pollution  and  pollutant 
emissions and contribute to climate protection. Since 2017, the federal government has 
been  funding  the  planning  and  construction  of  Cycle  highways  that  are  the 
responsibility of the federal states and municipalities (by 2030 with a total of around 
€390 million). 

•  New guidelines for the design of rural roads (RAL): The aim is to standardise the 
design of rural roads and ensure that road users behave in the same way in comparable 
situations.  As a result, a higher degree of road safety  can be expected,  especially  in 
interactions between different road users. The basis for the intended standardisation of 
rural roads into a few road types is the definition of four design classes for rural roads. 
•  Digital  Motorway  Test  Bed:  To  promote  innovation,  the  Ministry  established  the 
Digital Motorway Test Bed in Bavaria in 2015 – as a technology-neutral offer to the 
industry and the research community. Innovative applications in the field of connected 
and automated driving and intelligent infrastructure (e.g. sensors, metering equipment, 
vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication) are trialled in real world 
driving in what is referred to as a “laboratory with real-life conditions”. The Digital 
Motorway Test Bed has established itself as an incubator for future developments. 
•  Federal Highway Information System (BISStra): The Federal Highway Information 
System (BISStra) was developed to allow a coordinated use of all data related to federal 
trunk roads, bridges and tunnels (including their age, condition, loads exerted by traffic 
on roads and structures and number of people injured or killed in crashes) for planning, 
administration and research. BISStra supports the Federal Ministry for Transport, as 
well  as  the  Federal  Highway  Research  and  Transport  Institute  in  performing  their 
diverse administrative and research tasks. 

•  MAKAU  –  Catalogue of countermeasures against accident black spots: MaKaU 
contains a list of possible countermeasures against accident black spots, and it has been 
designed as a learning tool for the accident commissions. New countermeasures can be 
added  easily,  and  the  effectiveness  of  old  and  new  countermeasures  can  be  updated 
continuously based on the results of the effectiveness reviews supported by MaKaU. 

Safe Vehicles: 

•  Promotion  of  ADAS:  The  Federal  Ministry  for  Transport  (BMV)  is  supporting  the 
installation of turn assist systems: The de minimis programme enters into a new round 
–  Funding  Programme  to  Promote  Safety  and  Environmental  Protection  in  Road 
Haulage  Companies  Operating  Heavy  Goods  Vehicles.  Measures  funded  under  this 
programme  will  once  again  include  the  installation  of  turn  assist  systems  for 
commercial vehicles of more than 7.5 tonnes.  In 2024, new applications for vehicles 
with a permissible weight of more than 3.5 tons and buses with at least nine seats can 
be submitted again via the funding programme for the installation of turn assist systems.  
Based on the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) to set 
higher  requirements  for  driver  assistance  systems  in  trucks  and  buses,  new 
specifications  for emergency brake assistance were adopted at UNECE level in July 
2022. The specifications, which were previously drawn up by an international group of 
experts under German and Japanese leadership, take into account the improved state of 
the art of emergency braking systems, which were researched in a BASt study. The new 

14 

 
 
 
specifications will make emergency brake assistants even safer and more effective. 
•  Vehicle  Technical  Inspections:  Requirements  and  specifications  for  ADAS  are 
defined by the manufacturers and importers of vehicles, vehicle systems or components 
specifically for periodic technical inspection of vehicles and shall be evaluated by the 
central  body  agency  on  the  basis  of  the  information  provided  at  the  time  of 
homologation  or  submission  with  the  approval  documents  or  after  their  approval  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Regulations  (EC)  No  715/2007  and  (EC)  No 
692/2008, each as amended by Regulation (EC) No 566/2011, and Regulation (EC) No. 
595/2009.  These  specifications  are  transmitted  by  the  central  body  agency  for  its 
implementation and use during periodical technical inspection. 

•  Automation  Preparation:  The  funding  guidelines  entitled  ‘Ensuring  a  Viable  and 
Sustainable  Mobility  System  through  Automated  Driving  and  Connectivity’  are  to 
contribute to developing approaches from the fields of automated and connected driving 
as  a  component  of  the  mobility  system  of  the  future.  They  address  in  particular 
automated driving at higher automation levels, going as far as autonomous (driverless) 
driving,  as  well  as  connectivity  in  road  transport  including  the  consideration  of 
interfaces  with  other  modes  of  transport  in  complex  use  cases,  also  using  Artificial 
Intelligence (AI) methods. 

Post-crash Care: 

•  AORTA:  It  concerns  automated  emergency  corridors  in  complex  scenarios  by 
intelligent connectivity to support emergency vehicles in arriving faster and safer and 
gain life-saving time, especially in cities. 

5.  Conclusions 

In the road safety strategic plan of Germany for the decade 2021-2030, the target of reducing 
the  number  of  road  fatalities  in  2030  by  40%  has  been  set.  Also,  there  is  a  goal  of  a 
significant reduction in serious injuries by 2030, without setting a percentage target for this 
decline. The road safety strategic plan comprises 179 measures grouped in twelve  fields  of 
actions.  

In 2024, Germany was among the better performing countries in the EU in terms of fatality 
rates  (9th  with  the  lowest  fatality  rate).  Compared  to  the  EU  average,  the  distribution  of 
fatalities in  Germany shows a relatively high  proportion of cyclists, especially  inside urban 
areas, and fatalities aged 65 and over.  

Based on data, between 2019 and 2024, the number of fatalities decreased by 9% while the 
number of serious injuries decreased by 22%. Over the same period, road fatalities and serious 
injuries declined for almost all road user types. Only the number of killed cyclists remained 
stable.  

Regarding the progress of the implementation of the road safety actions foreseen in the national 
road safety strategy for the period 2021-2024, based on the self-reported assessment, there is a 
smooth implementation flow without any particular gaps being reported. Also, Germany has 
numerous examples of best practices to show. 

Despite the fact that the implementation of the foreseen actions is well on track, the overall 
road safety performance (number of fatalities) is making slow progress towards the target 
set for this period. To address this issue, Germany is carrying out an analysis with a view to 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
defining the focus areas for the future implementation of the Road Safety Programme. 

16