Cyclist safety in Europe is falling behind that of car occupants, according to a new report from the European Transport Safety Council, writes Brian Byrne. While deaths among motorised road users have declined steadily over the past decade, cyclist fatalities have barely fallen.
In 2024, 1,926 cyclists were killed on EU roads. Between 2014 and 2024, cyclist deaths dropped by just 8 per cent, compared with a much faster reduction among car occupants and other motor vehicle users. Cyclists now make up 10 per cent of all road deaths in the EU.
The report calls for lower urban speed limits, better enforcement, and major investment in protected cycling infrastructure.
In Ireland, cyclist death rates remain low by EU standards, but serious injuries are a growing concern. Hospital data suggest the problem is significantly undercounted in Garda records, pointing to a much greater safety challenge than official figures show.
Road safety experts say governments cannot continue promoting cycling for health and climate goals without also making it safer, especially as motor vehicles remain involved in most fatal cyclist collisions.
