This Is the Riskiest Country for Driving in Europe, According to a Recent Study

In 2023, nearly one-third of Americans traveling abroad opted for European destinations, with data from the International Trade Administration revealing that around three million visited the United Kingdom, 1.5 million traveled to France, and 1.6 million headed to Germany. The remainder explored various locations across the continent. Many of these travelers also rented vehicles to uncover their new surroundings.

If you plan to be part of the potentially record-breaking number of Americans traveling to Europe in 2024, that’s wonderful. However, if you intend to rent a car, it’s important to know which countries have the most hazardous driving conditions and which are the safest.

Vignetteswitzerland.com examined data from the European Transport Safety Council to identify which countries had the highest rates of road fatalities per million residents. After analyzing the statistics, the team concluded that Romania is the most perilous country for driving in Europe, reporting 85.81 deaths per million inhabitants in 2022. However, there's a silver lining, as this represents a 10.26 percent decrease from 2012, which recorded 95.62 deaths per million inhabitants.

Serbia ranks as the second most dangerous destination, with 82.65 road deaths per million inhabitants. Notably, this also reflects a significant improvement from 2012, when the country reported 95.01 road deaths per million.

Completing the top five most hazardous countries for driving in Europe, Bulgaria takes third place with 77.64 road deaths per million inhabitants; Croatia follows in fourth with 71.20; and Portugal rounds out the list in fifth, with 62.30. Encouragingly, this figure for Portugal shows an 8.53 percent decrease from 2012, when it had 68.11 road deaths per million inhabitants.

The safest countries identified in the study include Norway, which ranks first with just 21.38 deaths per million inhabitants, followed closely by Sweden at 21.72. The United Kingdom holds the third spot, reporting 25.89 road deaths per million.

It's crucial to understand that this data is not meant to instill fear. Instead, it's intended to inform and encourage adherence to local laws for the safety of you and your passengers while traveling.

“Given how interconnected Europe is and the ease of traveling between countries, it's essential to stay informed about driving conditions in each place you visit,” stated M. E. Wijnmalen, CEO of Vignetteswitzerland.com, in a statement to Dinogo. 'Various factors, including road quality, driving regulations, and changes in speed limits, can significantly impact the risks associated with being on the road.”

If you're planning a road trip, make sure to check out these 14 essential safety products to have in your trunk before you hit the road.