
Although progress is being made, the Western Balkans still faces challenges in reducing road deaths compared to European Union countries. According to the Transport Community road fatalities in the 6 countries of the region rose to 1,261 in 2023, an increase of 15 lives lost compared to previously published statistics.
According to the newly published report, in terms of the number of road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, all the countries of the region are positioned above the general average of the European Union. Montenegro ranks worst in this regard, while Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina come after it. Albania ranks fourth in terms of the rate of road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, while Kosovo ranks best among all the countries in the region, with the lowest number of fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants.
According to the Transport Community, the region continues to lag behind European Union countries in road safety performance, highlighting the need for more effective measures. According to him, by adopting a comprehensive Safe System approach, prioritizing safety in all aspects of road infrastructure, vehicle design and human behavior, the region can significantly reduce the number of road accidents. The implementation of the measures identified in the framework of the Next Generation Road Safety Action Plan (2025-2027) for both regional partners and observer participants is a crucial step towards achieving the Vision Zero objective.