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Europe's Red Asphalt: The Most Dangerous Roads in the EU
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Thinking of renting a car and driving through Europe this summer? Want to come back alive? Well then, there are a couple of countries you should probably avoid--mainly those located in the Baltics.
According to a recent EU report, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had the highest number of per capita vehicular fatalities in 2006. Lithuania led the charge with 223 deaths per million inhabitants. Latvia took second with 177 while Estonia grabbed the bronze with 152.
A deeper analysis of the report in the Baltic Times wasn't able to provide a clear answer as to why driving in the Baltics is such a dangerous ordeal. The paper did point out, however, that alcohol wasn't entirely to blame. Only 14.8 percent of Lithuania's fatalities were drunk driving related. Spain, on the other hand, holds the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of drunk driving fatalities: 29.5 percent. France and Portugal follow closely with 28.8 and 27.8 percent respectively.
Hmm... I might be wrong here, but I'll bet those three countries consume more wine per capita than anywhere else in Europe. Heavy beer drinking countries like the Czech Republic and Austria, on the other hand, experienced only 4.8 and 5.9 percent of fatalities due to drunk driving.
So, where are the safest roads in Europe? Malta with 25 fatalities per million inhabitants followed by the Netherlands (43) and Sweden (49).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doug Feb 17th 2008 8:51AM
Just returned (again) from Riga to visit with my wifes family and friends (all very wonderful) however...when I didn't think it could get worse..!!! it did, trying to make the 8 mile trek from Riga to Jurmala (coastal beach town) took almost TWO hours !!!!!! when the road crews decide to do some repair...they actually stop directly in front of you, no warnings, no orange cones, no nothing...and begin working, shutting down both sides of the road !!! I'm just glad we had some Vodka with us...so we could cope !!!
Riv Nov 11th 2008 5:31PM
I live in latvia... and yes .. im have the drivers license too.. and if u want to learn good rally steering and practice your agility than come here :) The reason why people are so ''stupid'' is still unknown.. but what i know that people to blame are not only teens or THE DRUNK... its everybody. 21 century latvians are impatient... they are rude to each other cause of the condition we live in (as we all latvians know we are in difficult times) and yes the drinking, being a dumb man influence from soviet union! but its not so bad...
just stay out of riga from 7:00-10:00, 17:00-20:00 so everything should be just fine AND remember DONT RELAX TO MUCH!
Carol May 8th 2007 8:48AM
The reason these countries have such a high rate of accidents is that almost no one began driving until the early 90's. Before that, they were part of the Soviet Union and couldn't afford to buy cars. Now they can, and for the last ten years it's been like driving in a country of teen-aged drivers.
As you mentioned, alcohol is also probably a factor. I can't speak for Lithuania or Estonia, but in Latvia, there is certainly a lot of drinking going on. We lived on the main street in Riga -- Brivibas iela -- and always had drunks wandering into the first level of our stairwell and relieving themselves. Seeing people passed out drunk was an everyday occurrence.
pd May 9th 2007 2:23AM
I live in the center of Lithuania and weaving in and out of traffic is crazy. The added benefit of tourists driving, new drivers and drunk drivers together makes it very dangerous. Add that at 10pm they turn off the traffic signals it makes it very scary!! Add the drunk taki drivers then it's a gamble to be out anywhere. Ohhh and if you get in accident.. the police will show up an hour later so your dead if you are injured.
Doug Jun 23rd 2007 12:22PM
I have just returned from a 15 day stay in Latvia (Riga) and we did travel to Palanga, Lithuania by car. One reason why their are so many accidents and deaths is simply most people do not understand what safe driving is....passing on the right, on the shoulder, making lanes when there are none, passing in the middle of a two lane road...crazy !!!! people...and then throw in the fact that there is not adequate signs warning of constuction, or other maladies just ahead...it was rediculous. Riga is a very large city of about 900,000 people with 75,000 cars on roads built for 5,000...this is the main problem that I could tell. it should not take you 45 minutes to go 2 miles...in downtown Riga..!!!! other than that, it was wonderful.
Doug
kz Jul 31st 2007 9:34PM
I agree that many people in those countries are not aware of/don't take seriously traffic safety. I was there a few years ago visiting relatives and I was invariably made fun of for wearing a seat belt. People tended to think it was especially unmanly when my uncle wore his seat belt.
Doug Aug 8th 2007 11:41AM
...another reason for the "poor driving habits" of the Baltic states is that their is NO driver education in the school system, this is a (luxury) not a necessity...and private driving schools or classes are very expensive. Most people labor over the 300 plus page "Driver handbook" then apply for a license without real testing or even real driving skills what-so-ever...case in point, my (wife) whom is Latvian has a valid drivers license...but absolutely cannot drive a car....!!!!
The Singing Revolution Sep 20th 2007 2:11PM
This is an interesting article. I just ran into a website about Estonia the other day - it is a Documentary about Estonia's Singing Revolution:
http://singingrevolution.com