Road accidents - 2023

During 2023, a stabilization in mobility occurs, if compared to 2022, a year in which there was a clear increase in noticed movements compared to the most acute phases of the pandemic. Concerning road accidents, 2023 shows a small improvement in the number of fatalities compared to the previous year; however, there is an upward trend in accidents and injuries, although slightly. 

In 2023, we count 3,039 deaths in road accidents in Italy (-3.8% compared to the previous year), 224,634 injuries (+0.5%), and 166,525 road accidents (+0.4%). The values are slightly higher compared to 2022 for accidents and injuries, but lower for fatalities. There is still a decrease compared to 2019 for accidents, fatalities, and injuries (respectively -3.3%, -4.2%, and -6.9%).

In 2023, fatalities increased for drivers of e-scooters, bicycles, and electric bicycles, they are stable for pedestrians, and decreased for other users. There were 1,332 fatalities among car occupants (-3.1%), 734 among motorcyclists (-6.0%), 68 among moped riders (-2.9%), 485 among pedestrians (0.0%). Among truck occupants, 112 deaths were recorded (-32.5%), while for bicycles and electric bicycles, the fatalities were 212, an increase compared to 2022 when there were 205 (+3.4%). Injuries also increased among users of electric scooters (counted since 2020): road accidents involving them rose from 2,929 in 2022 to 3,365 in 2023, injuries from 2,787 to 3,195, while deaths (within 30 days) were 21 (in 2022 there were 16).

On urban roads, motorways and rural roads, road accidents and injuries are slightly up or stable compared to 2022, with values still all falling compared to the reference year 2019. The number of fatalities fell in comparison with 2022 in all road areas, with a substantial drop in particular on motorways (-19.0 per cent); on urban roads the drop was 0.3 per cent, on rural roads 3.9 per cent.

In the EU27 as a whole, the number of killed fell slightly in 2023 (-1.5% compared to the previous year), after the increase in the previous year, that followed a drastic reduction in the two pandemic years (-10% compared to 2019). Overall, there are 20,385 deaths in 2023, compared to 20,685 in 2022 and 22,761 in 2019. Every million inhabitants there are 45 road deaths in the EU27 and 52 in our country, which remains in 19th place in the European ranking, tied with Poland.

Distraction, failure to yield right of way and speeding are confirmed as the most frequent types of incorrect driving behaviour. The three groups together account for 36.5% of cases (80,057), a value that has remained stable over time.

Driving too fast is the most sanctioned behaviour after prohibited stop and parking and accounts for 37% of all traffic offences. Sanctions for failure to use seat belts and child restraint systems fell slightly, while those for failure to wear a helmet rose sharply. The number of penalties for improper use of devices in the car remains high, and penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are on the rise, especially the high proportion from local police forces.

The car market shows a growth in 2023: first registrations of passenger’s cars increased by 18.4 % compared to 2022. On the motorway network, the annual average vehicle journeys shows a growth of 3.8% compared to 2022 and also an increase compared to 2019, recording a maximum, in absolute terms for total journeys, which exceed 86.7 billion vehicles per km.

Click to enlarge

Go to Infografic on road accident – Year 2023

Geo-referenced data on Road mortality and Road accidents rates: Road accidents in Italy – regional data – Year 2023