All EU Member States have committed to targets to reduce the consequences of road accidents in the decade to 2030. In 2023, there were 20,400 road deaths in EU countries, down just 1% from the previous year. While this is a 10% decrease compared to 2019, which is the baseline for the 2030 strategic target, we can note that the trend has remained flat in several Member States, while others have seen an increase. Statistical trends in the Western Balkans show that the number of road deaths rose to 1,261 in 2023, an increase of 15 lives lost compared to previously published data. The region continues to lag behind the EU27 in road safety, underscoring the need for more effective measures. As one of the measures to increase traffic safety, the possibility of using passivly safe infrastructure, in particular lighting poles, traffic signal supports and equipment as an alternative to existing structures with the aim of reducing the consequences of traffic accidents that occur in the last run-off of the road is presented. The presented results are consistent with previous findings published in the literature on the severity of the consequences of traffic accidents with run-off of the road in several different environments. Most importantly, the results provide evidence that passive safety poles that absorb high energy (in accordance with EN 12767) contribute to the reduction of accidents in this type of traffic accident.
All EU Member States have committed to targets to reduce the consequences of road accidents in the decade to 2030. In 2023, there were 20,400 road deaths in EU countries, down just 1% from the previous year. While this is a 10% decrease compared to 2019, which is the baseline for the 2030 strategic target, we can note that the trend has remained flat in several Member States, while others have seen an increase. Statistical trends in the Western Balkans show that the number of road deaths rose to 1,261 in 2023, an increase of 15 lives lost compared to previously published data. The region continues to lag behind the EU27 in road safety, underscoring the need for more effective measures. As one of the measures to increase traffic safety, the possibility of using passivly safe infrastructure, in particular lighting poles, traffic signal supports and equipment as an alternative to existing structures with the aim of reducing the consequences of traffic accidents that occur in the last run-off of the road is presented. The presented results are consistent with previous findings published in the literature on the severity of the consequences of traffic accidents with run-off of the road in several different environments. Most importantly, the results provide evidence that passive safety poles that absorb high energy (in accordance with EN 12767) contribute to the reduction of accidents in this type of traffic accident.
All EU Member States have committed to targets to reduce the consequences of road accidents in the decade to 2030. In 2023, there were 20,400 road deaths in EU countries, down just 1% from the previous year. While this is a 10% decrease compared to 2019, which is the baseline for the 2030 strategic target, we can note that the trend has remained flat in several Member States, while others have seen an increase. Statistical trends in the Western Balkans show that the number of road deaths rose to 1,261 in 2023, an increase of 15 lives lost compared to previously published data. The region continues to lag behind the EU27 in road safety, underscoring the need for more effective measures. As one of the measures to increase traffic safety, the possibility of using passivly safe infrastructure, in particular lighting poles, traffic signal supports and equipment as an alternative to existing structures with the aim of reducing the consequences of traffic accidents that occur in the last run-off of the road is presented. The presented results are consistent with previous findings published in the literature on the severity of the consequences of traffic accidents with run-off of the road in several different environments. Most importantly, the results provide evidence that passive safety poles that absorb high energy (in accordance with EN 12767) contribute to the reduction of accidents in this type of traffic accident.
