610 traffic deaths in 2020 (2024)

Nederlands

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Language: Nederlands (NL)

14/04/2021 15:00

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.

In 2020, traffic accidents killed a total of 610 people in the Netherlands. This is 51 fewer than in 2019 and the lowest number since 2015. The number of road fatalities fell most sharply among passenger car occupants and only increased among cyclists. The sharpest drop was seen among people in their twenties, thirties and the over-80s; and among road users in Noord-Brabant province. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of the latest figures.

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Traffic deaths
	Men	Women	Total
2000	861	305	1166
2001	816	267	1083
2002	790	276	1066
2003	804	284	1088
2004	630	251	881
2005	594	223	817
2006	576	235	811
2007	574	217	791
2008	552	198	750
2009	524	196	720
2010	475	165	640
2011	477	184	661
2012	479	171	650
2013	419	151	570
2014	411	159	570
2015	458	163	621
2016	458	171	629
2017	453	160	613
2018	485	193	678
2019	465	196	661
2020	453	157	610

Traffic deaths
	Men	Women	Total
2000	861	305	1166
2001	816	267	1083
2002	790	276	1066
2003	804	284	1088
2004	630	251	881
2005	594	223	817
2006	576	235	811
2007	574	217	791
2008	552	198	750
2009	524	196	720
2010	475	165	640
2011	477	184	661
2012	479	171	650
2013	419	151	570
2014	411	159	570
2015	458	163	621
2016	458	171	629
2017	453	160	613
2018	485	193	678
2019	465	196	661
2020	453	157	610

In 2020, there were 610 traffic deaths, i.e. 7.7 percent less than in year. These included 453 men and 157 women. The number of road fatalities among women fell by nearly 20 percent. Among men, the decline was relatively less pronounced at 2.6 percent.

Highest number of cycling deaths in 25 years

Most traffic victims in 2020 were cyclists (229), i.e. 26 more than in 2019 and one more than in 2018. The number of cyclist deaths was the highest in 25 years. One-third were e-bike fatalities (74 persons). In 2019, 65 e-bike riders were killed in traffic.

Last year, 195 passenger car occupants (37 passengers and 158 drivers) were killed, i.e. 42 fewer than in 2019. The number of victims dropped by 32 among passengers and by 10 among drivers.

Road fatalities further included 44 motorcyclists, 41 pedestrians, 33 (light-)moped riders, 34 mobility scooters and 23 occupants of a delivery van or lorry.

Traffic deaths by mode of transport
	2020	2019
Bicycle	229	203
Passenger car	195	237
Motorcycle	44	52
Pedestrian	41	49
Mobility scooter	34	42
(Light-)moped	33	42
Delivery van / lorry	23	28
Other	11	8

Traffic deaths by mode of transport
	2020	2019
Bicycle	229	203
Passenger car	195	237
Motorcycle	44	52
Pedestrian	41	49
Mobility scooter	34	42
(Light-)moped	33	42
Delivery van / lorry	23	28
Other	11	8

Largest decline among people in their twenties, thirties and the over-80s

Half of all traffic deaths were people aged 60 or older. Traffic mortality in this age group decreased from 324 in 2019 to 306 in 2020. The steady decline among the elderly has been visible for some time. Senior traffic victims (aged 60 and over) are relatively likely to be involved in a bicycle accident, while younger victims (under 60) are most likely to be killed in a car accident.

After an increase in 2019, the number of people in their twenties and thirties who were killed in traffic fell to the level of previous years, 2016-2018. Traffic mortality declined from 183 (2019) to 149 (2020), representing a 19-percent drop. The largest decline in this age group is seen among passenger car occupants and motorcyclists.

Among the over-80s, the number of road fatalities fell by 18: from 126 in 2019 to 108 in 2020. In this age category, fewer pedestrians and mobility scooter riders were killed. No major changes were seen between 2019 and 2020 among young people up to 20 years and 40 to 79-year-olds.

Traffic deaths by age
	2019	2020
Under 20 yrs	49	50
20 to 39 yrs	183	149
40 to 59 yrs	105	105
60 to 79 yrs	198	198
80 yrs and over	126	108

Traffic deaths by age
	2019	2020
Under 20 yrs	49	50
20 to 39 yrs	183	149
40 to 59 yrs	105	105
60 to 79 yrs	198	198
80 yrs and over	126	108

Largest decline in traffic mortality in Noord-Brabant

Noord-Brabant saw the highest number of road fatalities, but also the sharpest decline. In 2020, there were 99 traffic deaths, against 142 in 2019 and 150 in 2018. A decrease was also seen in Overijssel, Utrecht and Flevoland.

The provinces of Zeeland, Groningen and Friesland recorded more traffic deaths relative to 2019. In Drenthe, Gelderland, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Limburg, the level remained the same as in 2019. The lowest number of fatalities was recorded in Flevoland.

Traffic deaths by province
	2020	2019
Noord-Brabant	99	142
Noord-Holland	87	87
Gelderland	85	87
Zuid-Holland	83	85
Limburg	53	52
Overijssel	47	57
Fryslân	35	29
Utrecht	33	45
Drenthe	29	29
Groningen	27	19
Zeeland	22	13
Flevoland	10	16

Traffic deaths by province
	2020	2019
Noord-Brabant	99	142
Noord-Holland	87	87
Gelderland	85	87
Zuid-Holland	83	85
Limburg	53	52
Overijssel	47	57
Fryslân	35	29
Utrecht	33	45
Drenthe	29	29
Groningen	27	19
Zeeland	22	13
Flevoland	10	16

Relatively more traffic deaths during lockdown

From mid-March onwards, it was less busy on national roads, partly because many people worked from home and there were hardly any tourists on the road. The fact that the roads were much quieter is shown by data from the National Road Traffic Data Portal (NDW). On the weekends at the end of March and beginning of April, during the first lockdown, traffic intensity was only one-third of the level on corresponding weekends one year previously; on working days, the roads were only half as busy.

From mid-April 2020, traffic intensity began to increase gradually and dropped again after the summer. By the end of 2020, traffic activity on weekdays was around 80 percent of the level in 2019; at weekends, it was around 70 percent.

On the days when the roads were least busy in March and April 2020 (weeks 13 through 16, 23 March to 19 April inclusive), the number of traffic deaths was higher than in the same period in 2019. Similarly, in weeks 25 through 28 (15 June to 12 July 2020 inclusive) and weeks 45 to 48 (2 November to 29 November 2020 inclusive), traffic mortality was higher than in 2019, while traffic intensity was substantially lower.

Traffic deaths per 4-week period, 2020
	2019	2020
1-4	41	39
5-8	44	40
9-12	45	38
13 - 16	47	52
17 - 20	57	49
21 - 24	57	56
25 - 28	49	59
29 - 32	49	48
33 - 36	61	48
37 - 40	57	50
41 - 44	49	33
45 - 48	45	52
49 - 53	60	46

Traffic deaths per 4-week period, 2020
	2019	2020
1-4	41	39
5-8	44	40
9-12	45	38
13 - 16	47	52
17 - 20	57	49
21 - 24	57	56
25 - 28	49	59
29 - 32	49	48
33 - 36	61	48
37 - 40	57	50
41 - 44	49	33
45 - 48	45	52
49 - 53	60	46

FAQs

How many people died in the U.S. road accidents in 2020? ›

There were 38,824 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways during 2020. This is the largest number of fatalities since 2007. It also represents a 6.8-percent increase from 36,355 fatalities in 2019, or 2,469 more people killed in traffic crashes in 2020.

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What year had the most traffic deaths? ›

Driver attitudes and behaviors have changed substantially, as has vehicle safety technology, which makes car travel safer. The population motor-vehicle death rate reached its peak in 1937 with 30.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

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How many people have died on the road? ›

There were 42,514 deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2022. This corresponds to 12.8 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.33 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.

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What state has the lowest car accidents? ›

For example, Massachusetts has the least amount of car accidents, claiming a rate of 4.9 car accident fatalities per 100,000 people. The state claimed only 327 fatal car accidents in 2020.

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What is the #1 cause of death on U.S. roadways? ›

SPEEDING. Everybody seems to be in a hurry, but driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted speed limits clearly contributes to auto accidents and accident fatalities. According to the NHTSA, the top reason for traffic accidents and fatalities were driving too fast for the road conditions.

What state has the most road deaths? ›

According to our findings, Mississippi records the highest rate of traffic fatalities nationwide, while New York reports the lowest. Montana experiences the highest rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths.

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There are nearly 43,000 fatal crashes a year in the U.S., but there's at least a glimmer of hope: The actual deadly car crash rate is less than 1%.

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What is the biggest cause of death on the road? ›

Careless and inconsiderate driving

driving too close to the vehicle in front. not giving way at a junction. eating or drinking at the wheel. under-taking or dangerous over-taking.

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Which state has the safest driver? ›

The safest states for driving were New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, which had the lowest fatality rates, contrasted with Wyoming, Mississippi, and Arkansas, which were the most dangerous states for driving.

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States with the most car accidents

In 2020, the following states reported the highest numbers of fatal car accidents in the U.S.: California: 3,847 deaths out of 3,558 accidents. Texas: 3,874 deaths out of 3,520 accidents. Florida: 3,331 deaths out of 2,950 accidents.

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What state has the most drunk driving fatalities? ›

1. Wyoming. Wyoming leads the nation in drunk driving deaths per 100,000 people, according to the NHTSA. Critics blast the state's lenient drunk driving laws and absence of sobriety checkpoints.

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How many people are killed on American roads each year? ›

More than 370,000 people died in transportation incidents over the last decade (2011-2020) in the United States. More than 350,000 of them died on our roads. In 2021, 42,939 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes, of which 7,388 were people walking. Millions more are injured – sometimes permanently – each year.

How many road accidents in usa per day? ›

Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in the U.S. In fact, at least 7.3 million motor vehicle accidents occur each year across the nation, according to recent data and the latest findings from authorities. And that works out to roughly: 19,937 crashes every day.

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How many wrong way driving deaths occur in the U.S. each year? ›

On average about 350 people are killed each year nationwide in wrong-way freeway crashes, according to an analysis by retired FHWA traffic engineer Dennis Eckhart using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Accident Reporting System.

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What country has the most car accidents? ›

Which Country Has the Most Car Accidents? The United States has one of the biggest road networks in the world, and it also has one of the highest rates of drivers. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the United States also has the largest number of car accidents in the world.