Traffic injuries and fatalities in the Netherlands fell slightly in 2023

In 2023, 7,400 people were seriously injured in traffic accidents across the Netherlands, marking a decrease of 900 compared to 2022. However, despite the decline, long-term data shows a rising trend in traffic-related injuries and fatalities, particularly among older cyclists, according to figures released by SWOV, the Institute for Road Safety Research.

The number of road fatalities also dropped in 2023, with 684 deaths reported compared to 745 the previous year. “2022 was an exceptionally bad year, with a high number of traffic casualties,” said SWOV Director Martin Damen. “The pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 had fewer casualties due to reduced traffic volumes. But when we compare 2023 to the years before the pandemic, we see an overall increase in victims, both in fatalities and serious injuries.”

Cyclists accounted for a significant portion of traffic casualties. Among traffic fatalities in 2023, 39 percent (270 individuals) were cyclists. For those seriously injured, the proportion was even higher, at 70 percent (5,180 individuals). Most of these incidents involved cyclists aged 60 and older, a demographic that constituted more than half of all traffic fatalities (55 percent) and serious injuries (58 percent).

Over the past decade, fatalities among cyclists have increased by an average of 5 percent annually, with older cyclists experiencing the steepest rise. Fatalities among older road users overall have grown by 3 percent per year, driven in part by the aging population in the Netherlands.

Accidents on roads with lower speed limits (30, 50, and 60 km/h) have seen a consistent rise in fatalities over the past decade. On roads with a 30 km/h speed limit, fatalities have increased by an average of 12 percent per year, while roads with a 50 km/h limit saw a 31 percent rise.

Casualty distribution across speed-limit zones reveals varying trends. On roads with a 30 km/h speed limit, fatalities have risen by 12 percent annually, and these roads account for 42 percent of ambulance cases. For 50 km/h roads, the annual increase in fatalities is significantly higher at 31 percent, with these roads contributing to 33 percent of ambulance cases. In contrast, roads with a 60 km/h limit show a more moderate annual increase in fatalities at 17 percent.

By contrast, roads with higher speed limits, such as 80 km/h, experienced fewer fatalities in recent years. Provincially managed 80 km/h roads recorded a 13 percent increase in fatalities, while municipal roads with the same speed limit saw only a 7 percent rise.

A 2023 survey of Dutch motorists revealed that 9 percent admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year. The findings underscore the ongoing challenges of reducing impaired driving and its contribution to road casualties.