Slightly less fatalities on Belgian roads in 2018
Road accidents 2018
There were 38,455 road accidents in 2018, bringing the total of casualties to 49,354, including 45,114 slightly injured, 3,636 seriously injured and 604 persons who died within 30 days of the accident. This is what emerged from the latest figures on road accidents published by Statbel, the Belgian
Compared to 2017, this is a slight increase in the number of accidents (+1.1%) and in the number of slightly injured (+0,9%) and a more marked decrease in the number of seriously injured (-3,3%).
The number of persons who died within 30 days of the accident has decreased by 0.8%.
| Belgium | 2017* | 2018 | 2017/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of accidents | 38.025 | 38.455 | +1,1% |
| Number of casualties | 49.081 | 49.354 | +0,6% |
| Number of deaths 30 days | 609 | 604 | -0,8% |
| Number of serious casualties | 3.762 | 3.636 | -3,3% |
| Number of light casualties | 44.710 | 45.114 | +0,9% |
| * Revised values | |||
Number of accidents and casualties per region and per province
The tables below show the evolution of the number of accidents and casualties per region.
The number of accidents slightly decreases in Wallonia (+0,3%) and in Brussels (+0,3%) but increases in Flanders (+2%).
In terms of casualties, the Brussels-Capital Region and Wallonia register a decrease of respectively 1.5% and 0.6%. The Flemish Region saw an increase of 1.4%.
The number of persons who died within 30 days of the accident has decreased by 12.5% in the Brussels-Capital Region and by 4.5% in Wallonia. In the Flemish Region, this indicator has increased by 3.7%, from 299 persons who died within 30 days in 2017 to 310 in 2018.
As regards the seriously injured, we observe a decrease of 8.8% in the Brussels Region, of 4.2% in Wallonia and of 2.6% in Flanders. As regards the slightly injured, Brussels and Wallonia have registered a decrease of 1.1% and 0.2% respectively, while this figure increases in Flanders (+1.8%).
| Brussels-Capital Region | 2017* | 2018 | 2017/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of accidents | 3.846 | 3.833 | -0,3% |
| Number of casualties | 4.602 | 4.532 | -1,5% |
| Number of persons who died within 30 days | 24 | 21 | -12,5% |
| Number of seriously injured | 194 | 177 | -8,8% |
| Number of slightly injured | 4.384 | 4.334 | -1,1% |
| * Revised values | |||
| Flemish Region | 2017* | 2018 | 2017/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of accidents | 23.239 | 23.714 | +2,0% |
| Number of casualties | 29.782 | 30.208 | +1,4% |
| Number of persons who died within 30 days | 299 | 310 | +3,7% |
| Number of seriously injured | 2.594 | 2.526 | -2,6% |
| Number of slightly injured | 26.889 | 27.372 | +1,8% |
| * Revised values | |||
| Walloon Region | 2017* | 2018 | 2017/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of accidents | 10.940 | 10.908 | -0,3% |
| Number of casualties | 14.697 | 14.614 | -0,6% |
| Number of persons who died within 30 days | 286 | 273 | -4,5% |
| Number of seriously injured | 974 | 933 | -4,2% |
| Number of slightly injured | 13.437 | 13.408 | -0,2% |
| * Revised values | |||
In 2018, the provinces with the largest number of persons who died within 30 days were Hainaut (91), West Flanders (82), Liège (76) and East Flanders (71). On the other hand, the provinces of Walloon Brabant (18), Luxembourg (35) and Flemish Brabant (35) have the lowest numbers of persons who died within 30 days.
More positive evolution among young people
In 2018, 106 young people aged between 20 and 29 died on our roads. They are the most affected age group as they represent 17.5% of the fatalities. In the long run, however, there has been a significant improvement. 264 young people in their twenties were killed in road accidents in 2005. They made up 23.3% of the people killed. Each year, the figures of the youngest age groups improve more strongly than the others In particular, the number of young people aged between 20 and 29 killed was reduced by a factor of four between 2005 and 2018 and the number of casualties under the age of five has fallen from 19 to 3.
At the same time, the number of deaths among the oldest falls more slowly and/or even increases for those aged 80 and over.
| 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2018/2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from 0 to 9 years old | 25 | 20 | 12 | 8 | -68,0% |
| from 0 to 4 years old | 19 | 13 | 9 | 3 | -84,2% |
| from 10 to 19 years old | 101 | 64 | 43 | 26 | -74,3% |
| from 20 to 29 years old | 264 | 225 | 159 | 106 | -59,8% |
| from 30 to 39 years old | 197 | 151 | 107 | 90 | -54,3% |
| from 40 to 49 years old | 169 | 106 | 92 | 74 | -56,2% |
| from 50 to 59 years old | 116 | 92 | 106 | 85 | -26,7% |
| from 60 to 69 years old | 87 | 65 | 86 | 76 | -12,6% |
| from 70 to 79 years old | 90 | 71 | 70 | 64 | -28,9% |
| 80 and over | 58 | 50 | 80 | 66 | +13,8% |
Verkeersongevallen met doden en gewonden, voor België en de gewesten, laatste 8 jaar
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Purpose and short description
Statbel has been compiling statistics on road accidents since 1 July 1926. These statistics are based on a form that must be completed by the police services in the event of any accident on the road claiming casualties. Over time, this form has been adapted several times according to the evolution of society and road phenomena.
Survey population
Road traffic accidents with personal injury in Belgium which resulted in a police report.
Data collection method and sample size
Administrative data : on-site police records and investigation by prosecutors.
Périodicité
Annuel
Release calendar
Availability of results: 6 months after the reference period.
Definitions
Accident: an accident between two or more road users is considered as one accident. Only accidents on public roads and claiming casualties are included in these statistics. Are therefore excluded: collisions and accidents on private property or at sports events. Accidents with material damage only are no longer included since 1973.
Death 30 days: any person who died on the scene or within 30 days after the accident.
Serious casualty: any person injured in a road accident whose condition requires hospitalisation of more than 24 hours.
Light casualty: any person injured in a road accident who is not classified under fatal or serious casualty.
Car: passenger cars; twin-purpose cars; minibuses; camping vehicles.
Van: van
Truck: truck, tractor + semi-trailers; tractor alone.
Bus: bus; coach.
Moped: moped A (two wheels), moped B (two wheels), moped with 3 or 4 wheels.
Motorcycle: motorcycle not exceeding 400 cc, motorcycle exceeding 400 cc.
Bicyle: bicycle
Pedestrian:disabled person in a wheelchair; pedestrian with a two-wheeled vehicle; other pedestrian.
Other: agricultural tractor; trolleybus; rider; carriage; other user; unknown, unavailable.
Remarks
Quality of the figures: Death data are the most reliable and stable data. Indeed, it is more than likely that a fatal accident will be the subject of police or prosecutorial intervention. Data on light casualties are most likely underestimated, especially for vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists). Belgian and international studies estimate the police registration rate at 90% for fatal accidents (data from prosecutors, however, allow us to improve these results). It is around 50% for casualties requiring hospitalisation and less than 20% for very light casualties (not requiring hospitalisation).
Data from 2005 to 2017 have been revised by police services. Statbel updated its road accident data in June 2018. There is a large number of unknown data for some important variables (municipality, road conditions, and weather conditions, among others) between 2005 and 2017. It is less a problem for the most recent years. The most recent release always prevails.