Major gains in road safety are being seen in the Czech Republic compared with the high number of fatalities in previous decades. In 1969 road deaths in the Czech Republic peaked at 1,758, dropping slowly to 1,473 in 1994. However, for 2023, there were just 455 road deaths in the Czech Republic.
This mirrors road safety gains seen in most European nations from peaks in road deaths in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The data comes from the Czech Statistical Office. Some of the improvement in road safety derives from vehicles have better braking and safety systems, as well as better occupant protection. Some of the improvement in road safety derives from better quality infrastructure, with gains in guardrail technology, traffic management systems and also lighting for example. Some of the gains also come from the increases in multi lane highway sections, which reduce the risk of high speed head on collisions.
Meanwhile, a survey carried out jointly by the Czech Association of Insurance Companies and the Czech Office of Insurers reveals that there were 14,517 crashes at roundabouts in the Czech Republic between 2010 and 2023. However, 73% of crashes at roundabouts did not result in injuries. By comparison, 65% of crashes at conventional intersections did not result in injuries.