Luxembourg recorded a significant drop in the number of road deaths in 2024, with 18 fatalities.
The Grand Ducal Police, in collaboration with STATEC and the Technical Investigation Administration, has released its 2024 road accident report. The first finding is a 31% decrease in fatal accidents compared to 2023 and an 11% decrease in the number of serious injuries.
In detail, 18 people lost their lives on the country’s roads in 2024 (compared to 26 a year earlier). In terms of seriously injured victims, the authorities recorded 308 cases last year, compared with 347 in 2023.
However, the number of minor injuries, which had fallen by 5% in the last report, rose by 5% to 1,144 victims, compared with 1,087, the same level as in 2022.
In their comparison, the police and STATEC presented figures over a longer period, showing that in ten years, the number of road deaths fell from 41 in 2013 to 18 in 2024, while the number of serious injuries remained stable, falling from 273 in 2013 to 281 last year.
Motorcyclists: 50% of deaths
In terms of users, motorcyclists paid the heaviest price with nine deaths in 2024, accounting for 50% of all deaths recorded. They were followed by five car drivers, three pedestrians and one van driver. Among those seriously injured, the authorities recorded 114 car drivers, 76 motorcyclists, 41 pedestrians and 43 cyclists.
It should be noted that overall (fatalities and serious injuries), the figures show a decrease in the number of victims in each category, except for bicycles, which rose from 40 to 43 victims.
Despite the decline in figures, the authorities stress that this encouraging trend is accompanied by a more nuanced observation: accidents remain frequent, and the number of minor injuries continues to rise.
Spring and summer are more accident-prone than autumn and winter
Road accidents are highly seasonal. Spring and summer account for a significant proportion of accidents, with 105 serious and/or fatal accidents between March and May and 103 between June and August.
Conversely, in autumn (56 serious and/or fatal accidents) and winter (49), road users seem to be more cautious. From a geographical point of view, the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette is the most affected by road accidents, with 73 serious and/or fatal accidents. It should be noted that this is also the region with the highest traffic density.
Next comes the Luxembourg region with 50 serious and/or fatal accidents throughout the year. Capellen (35 cases), Grevenmacher (30 cases) and Mersch (27 cases) complete the ranking.
However, once again, seasonality seems to play a role in geographical risk factors. For example, in spring 2024, the Grevenmacher region (18 cases) had the highest number of accidents, ahead of the Diekirch region (10 cases) and Luxembourg (13 cases).
However, in winter, the regions of Grevenmacher and Diekirch recorded only seven serious and/or fatal accidents in total, while the region of Capellen (14 cases) and Esch-sur-Alzette (12) were the most accident-prone.
Speed, the main risk factor
According to the findings and investigations of the authorities, the main causes of serious and fatal accidents in 2024 were related to speed, pedestrian offences and driving under the influence.
In detail:
- Excessive or inappropriate speed: 268 cases
- Pedestrian offences: 186 cases
- Alcohol or drug consumption: 183 cases
- Failure to give way: 173 cases
- Insufficient safety distance: 152 cases
- Crossing the safety line: 96 cases
These figures highlight the importance of prevention and compliance with the Highway Code in order to continue reducing the number of deaths. They also show that road users still too often engage in risky behaviour.
This trend has been confirmed by a recent ACL study, which shows, for example, that one in three motorists admits to having driven after drinking too much.
At a press conference on the subject, Yuriko Backes (DP), Minister for Mobility and Public Works, emphasised:
“The decline in the number of deaths on our roads is a positive indicator. It shows that the road safety measures taken in recent years are bearing fruit: but every death is one too many, every accident is one too many! Nevertheless, the statistics on serious accidents, particularly serious injuries, tell us that our efforts must continue, in particular through the National Road Safety Plan 2024-2028. Road safety remains a priority. It is imperative that we continue to raise awareness, adapt our infrastructure and consolidate our fight against risky behaviour, whether it be speeding, drink-driving or distracted driving. The goal is clear: to make our roads safer for everyone, regardless of how they travel.
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