More traffic deaths among people in their twenties and thirties

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© Hollandse Hoogte
In 2019, a total of 661 people in the Netherlands died in a traffic accident. This is 17 less than in 2018, but the annual number of traffic deaths is still higher compared to the years 2012-2017. The number of traffic fatalities among people in their twenties and thirties rose by 24 percent, from 147 in 2018 to 183 in 2019. Most victims were seen in the province of Noord-Brabant. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on the latest figures.

In 2019, there were 661 traffic deaths, i.e. 2.5 percent less than in the previous year. Last year, 465 men and 196 women were killed in traffic. After a sharp increase in 2018, traffic mortality among men declined again in 2019. There was no decline among women.

The majority of road accident victims were car occupants (237); 168 drivers and 69 passengers. Road fatalities further included 203 cyclists, 52 motorcyclists, 49 pedestrians, 42 mobility scooter riders and 42 (light-)moped riders.

More victims among motorcyclists

The number of motorcyclists killed on the road went up from 42 in 2018 to 52 last year. There were also more fatalities among moped riders and passenger car occupants. However, the number of deaths among cyclists was down. Traffic mortality among e-bike riders stood at 65 last year, i.e. one-third of all cyclist fatalities. In 2018, 57 e-bike riders were killed in traffic.

24 percent more traffic deaths among people in their twenties and thirties

The number of traffic accident victims aged 20 to 39 years rose from 147 in 2018 to 183 in 2019, i.e. a 24-percent increase. The largest increase can be seen among passenger car occupants (from 80 in 2018 to 93 in 2019), motor cyclists (from 24 in 2018 to 32 in 2019) and moped riders (from 3 in 2018 to 11 in 2019).

Among 40 to 59-year-olds, the traffic death toll dropped by 21 to 105 in 2019. This decrease was almost entirely on account of cyclists. The number of cyclist fatalities in this age group fell by nearly half (from 46 in 2018 to 24 in 2019).

Half of road fatalities involve people aged 60 and over

Half of the number of traffic deaths were people at the age of 60 or older. However, traffic mortality in this age group did decrease from 350 in 2018 to 324 in 2019; in 2018, it was still up by 62. Senior traffic victims (aged 60 and over) are relatively likely to be involved in a fatal bicycle accident, while younger victims (under 60) are most likely to be killed in a car accident.

Highest traffic death toll in Noord-Brabant

In 2019, traffic accidents killed 142 people in the province of Noord-Brabant, versus 150 in 2018. In both Noord-Holland and Gelderland, the death toll stood at 87. Zuid-Holland recorded a decline in traffic mortality, from 100 in 2018 to 85 in 2019. The lowest number of victims were seen in Zeeland, Flevoland and Groningen.

Lowest death toll per vehicle km in Zuid-Holland and Zeeland

Last year, Noord-Brabant (55), Gelderland (30) and Zuid-Holland (26) saw the highest number of passenger car occupants killed in traffic, in absolute terms. The lowest number was recorded in Zeeland. Noord-Brabant, Drenthe and Limburg had the highest shares of deaths among passenger car occupants per billion vehicle kilometres, while Zuid-Holland and Zeeland had the lowest shares.