In 2023, 2,750 people died on Germany’s roads as a result of road accidents, which is more than seven people a day. However, a look at our graph shows that the figures have calmed down considerably thanks to one or two new regulations in the Highway Code. Fortunately, we have left the five-digit figures of the 1960s and 1970s behind us. Nobody today can imagine the inferno of 1970, when 21,330 road users were killed. Almost 60 people died on German roads every day back then, an almost unbelievable number.
Now, the obligation to wear a helmet for car drivers has just as little effect as the obligation to wear a seatbelt for motorcyclists, but alcohol can be involved in both groups. And here the figures show that alcohol is clearly a risk factor in road traffic that should not be underestimated. With the introduction of the 0.8 per mille limit, there was the second major drop in fatalities after the speed limit on country roads. With the introduction of the 0.5 per mille limit, the downward trend in fatal accidents continued steadily.
However, something else needs to be added on the subject of alcohol. Our graph shows the development achieved by all regulations. At 37,172, the number of alcohol-related accidents in 2023 was above the level of the years 2014 to 2019, which ranged from 34,000 to 36,000.
The low point reached shortly after the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021 with 2,560 fatalities was marginally revised upwards again, but the sideways trend continues (source: Destatis).
The country road: the problem child in terms of road safety
A spring day, a light breeze and the weather is perfect for cruising along the country roads in the rural regions close to home. Friday afternoon, 3.30 p.m., also on the country road, on the way home from work 50 kilometres away, at a slightly excessive speed, 130 km/h instead of the permitted 80 km/h, but what the hell, the route is familiar. Unfortunately, so is the sad ending. Only 24 per cent of all accidents with personal injury occurred on rural roads in 2023 However, 58 per cent of road fatalities were counted (source: Destatis).
The breakdown of casualties by mode of transport is also quite interesting:
| absolut number (total 1.635) | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 879 | 54% |
| Moped, motorbike, scooter | 403 | 25% |
| Bike | 189 | 12% |
Destatis did not provide any information on the difference of 164 people or nine per cent.
Germany in the first four months of 2025
Finally, we have a brand-new statistic for the year 2025: the number of people killed in road accidents in Germany between January and April 2025, broken down by federal state:
| Federal State | Traffic fatalities |
|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | 119 |
| Bavaria | 112 |
| Berlin | 10 |
| Brandenburg | 38 |
| Bremen | 1 |
| Hamburg | 7 |
| Hesse | 47 |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 30 |
| Lower Saxony | 116 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 119 |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | 44 |
| Saarland | 4 |
| Saxony | 43 |
| Saxony-Anhalt | 17 |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 21 |
| Thuringia | 24 |
| Germany total | 766 |
These figures, extrapolated for the year, would theoretically be encouraging. However, the summer holidays with significantly higher traffic volumes and autumn and winter with frequent accidents on rural roads in freezing wet conditions or when crossing game are still missing. Incidentally, Bavaria was the frontrunner in 2023 with 453 fatal accidents, followed by North Rhine-Westphalia with 411.
