PTW fatalities in Europe

Table 2 and figure 2 and 3 show the absolute numbers of fatalities in two age groups for the year 2005. Trends over a longer period will be mentioned in the following text but are not included in the tables. Trends over time in numbers of moped fatalities have varied between countries. There is also much diversity in age groups of moped fatalities between countries. The most consistent finding with regard to motorcycle fatalities is the larger proportion of riders 25 years and older in 2005 as compared to 1980 when the proportion under 25 years was much higher.

The total number of PTW fatalities in 2005 in Europe (as represented in IRTAD) was 7030, which is 15% of all traffic fatalities. 50% of fatally injured moped riders were under the age of 25. 75% of the motorcycle riders killed in traffic were 25+.

Table 2 year 2005; source IRTAD

Figure 2 Absolute number of moped fatalities by age per country (Source IRTAD)

Figure 3 Absolute number of motorcycle fatalities by age per country (Source IRTAD)

Moped fatalities

Most northern and western countries had strongly decreasing numbers of moped fatalities until 1990 and 1995, after which the number decreased more slowly (e.g. Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands), remained more or less the stable (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, France) or even increased somewhat (e.g. Denmark and Great Britain). Belgium is the exception with a continuous decrease since 1980.

Among the southern countries, Portugal and Italy show a continuous decline which is much stronger in Portugal than in Italy. The number of moped fatalities in Greece had a peak between 1990 and 1995 and a much lower level after that. Spain is similar with a peak in 1990. Of the central European countries Poland and Hungary have similar trends: decreasing which stopped in very recent years. On the contrary, moped fatalities in Czech Republic in recent years are lower than before. These trends in moped fatalities are roughly in correspondence with the trends in ownership.

When age groups of moped fatalities are taken into account, there is much diversity between the countries. Countries like Germany and the Netherlands have a large proportion of moped fatalities 25 years and older in 2005. This was different in 1980, when the proportion of under 25 years was larger. This indicates a strong decline of moped fatalities over the years, in particular for young moped riders. Some northern and western countries show a majority of moped fatalities under 25 years in 2005. France is one of these but used to have more fatalities 25 years and older in 1980, whereas Great Britain always had more young moped fatalities.

Of the southern countries Greece, Italy and Portugal have a large proportion of older moped fatalities, which for Greece and Italy has always been the case. Portugal used to have about equal numbers of young and old moped fatalities in 1980. Spain had equal proportions young and old moped fatalities in 2005 as well as in 1980.

The central European countries always had more moped fatalities in the older age group.

Motorcycle fatalities

The most consistent finding with regard to motorcycle fatalities is the larger proportion of riders 25 years and older in northern and western countries in 2005 as compared to 1980 when the proportion under 25 years was much higher. The trends in number of fatalities for the two age groups combined is less consistent with the northern countries showing little change and other countries (e.g. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain) showing a decline until 1990-1995.

The southern countries are similar to the western and northern countries with many more motorcycle fatalities 25 years or older in 2005 and the younger age group higher in 1980. Of the central European countries Czech Republic and Slovenia show a strong increase in older motorcycle fatalities in recent years and a decrease in younger fatalities, with a slowly decreasing overall number as a result. Hungary forms an exception with a rather strong fall between 1990 and 1995, which was even stronger for motorcycle fatalities 25 years and older.