Skip to main content

Road risks from motor vehicles

Road safety risks are mainly from motor vehicles.
By MJ Woof March 30, 2021 Read time: 1 min
Vans and light commercial vehicles have the highest risk of involvement in crashes according to a new report – image © courtesy of Mike Woof
Fatalities and serious injuries that occur on roads are most likely to be caused by crashes involving motor vehicles. That is the conclusion of a new report from the European Transport Safety Commission (ETSC).

According to the report, the majority of deaths and serious injuries in road crashes are either to vehicle occupants or by people in an impact with a vehicle. In relation to distance travelled, crashes involving vans and light goods vehicles pose the highest percentage risk to other road users. The report also states that pedestrians and cyclists are those most at risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash involving a motor vehicle. Meanwhile, motorcyclists face the highest rate of road fatalities in relation to distance travelled.

The report also highlights that in contrast, pedestrians and cyclists are rarely involved in collisions that result in the death of other road users.

Related Content

  • Greater risk to pedestrians from safer cars?
    March 11, 2016
    A new study the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in the US reveals that pedestrian deaths are increasing. The study is based on preliminary data from the State Highway Safety Offices. Following adjustments to that data for underreporting, the GHSA study estimates that pedestrian deaths increased 10% in the first half of 2015 compared with the previous year. Even without the adjustment, pedestrian deaths were still 6% greater, at 2,368 for 2015 than 2014.
  • Poor road safety causes too many deaths
    December 13, 2016
    Road safety is an issue that rarely grabs headlines, although it is something that affects people around the globe. Road deaths account for a shockingly high percentage of deaths worldwide, with the risks being particularly high in developing countries. This poses such a threat to public health that the United Nations has been taking steps to address the issue, commencing with its Decade of Action on Road Safety in 2010. The focus has been on developing countries, due to the rapid increase in road deaths in
  • Better road safety can save lives worldwide
    January 24, 2017
    Road safety is an issue that rarely grabs headlines, although it is something that affects people around the globe. Road deaths account for a shockingly high percentage of deaths worldwide, with the risks being particularly high in developing countries. This poses such a threat to public health that the United Nations has been taking steps to address the issue, commencing with its Decade of Action on Road Safety in 2010. The focus has been on developing countries, due to the rapid increase in road deaths in
  • European Transport Safety Commission makes call for traffic safety boost
    July 10, 2015
    In 2013, 7,600 people died in road traffic while cycling or walking in European Union (EU) countries – the equivalent of a commercial airliner full of passengers being lost every week Because of this risk of death, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) wants vehicle manufacturers and local authorities to pay special attention to improving safety for cyclists, walkers and pedestrians. In a new report, the ETSC said the numbers being killed are falling more slowly than those for vehicle occupants. Over