Study: Ireland ninth safest European country for driving
Ireland ranks ninth as Europe's safest country for driving, with 32 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2024, 29% lower than the European average, a study has revealed.
The study, carried out by Vignetteswitzerland.com, analysed the latest data from the European Transport Safety Council's (ETSC) Performance Index (PIN) 2025 report, ranking European countries based on their 2024 road fatality figures.
According to the study, Ireland recorded 172 road deaths in 2024, maintaining "strong safety performance" across both urban centres and rural counties.
It also found that Ireland's roads are more than twice as safe as Serbia's, which is Europe's most dangerous driving country.
The study revealed that despite having one of Europe's "most extensive rural road networks" and challenging Atlantic weather conditions, Ireland maintains consistent safety standards nationwide.
The table below outlines Europe's top 10 safest driving countries:
| Rank | Country | 2024 Road deaths | Population | 2024 Road deaths per million | Difference to EU average |
| 32 | Norway | 89 | 5,550,217 | 16 | -64% |
| 31 | Sweden | 213 | 10,551,707 | 20 | -56% |
| 30 | Malta | 12 | 563,443 | 21 | -53% |
| 29 | Denmark | 145 | 5,961,249 | 24 | -47% |
| 28 | United Kingdom | 1,702 | 69,200,000 | 25 | -44% |
| 27 | Luxembourg | 18 | 672,050 | 27 | -40% |
| 26 | Switzerland | 250 | 8,962,258 | 28 | -38% |
| 25 | Finland | 176 | 5,603,851 | 31 | -31% |
| 23 | Ireland | 172 | 5,351,681 | 32 | -29% |
| 23 | Slovenia | 68 | 2,123,949 | 32 | -29% |
The following table outlines Europe's top 10 most dangerous driving countries:
| Rank | Country | 2024 Road deaths | Population | 2024 Road deaths per million residents | Difference to EU average |
| 1 | Serbia | 514 | 6,605,168 | 78 | +73% |
| 2 | Romania | 1,477 | 19,067,576 | 77 | +71% |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 478 | 6,445,481 | 74 | +64% |
| 4 | Greece | 665 | 10,400,720 | 64 | +42% |
| 5 | Croatia | 239 | 3,861,967 | 62 | +38% |
| 6 | Latvia | 112 | 1,871,882 | 60 | +33% |
| 6 | Portugal | 634 | 10,639,726 | 60 | +33% |
| 8 | Hungary | 497 | 9,584,627 | 52 | +16% |
| 8 | Poland | 1,896 | 36,620,970 | 52 | +16% |
| 10 | Italy | 3,030 | 58,971,230 | 51 | +13% |
The CEO of Vignetteswitzerland.com, Mattijs Wijnmalen said: "Ireland's ninth-place ranking is particularly impressive, given the unique challenges of maintaining road safety across such a diverse road network.
"From the busy M50 around Dublin to winding coastal roads in Kerry and Donegal, Ireland manages an incredibly varied driving environment that includes some of Europe's most scenic, and challenging, rural routes."
"The 29% improvement over the EU average represents significant progress, especially considering Ireland's challenging weather conditions and the mix of local traffic, agricultural vehicles, and international tourists navigating unfamiliar roads," Wijnmalen added.
