Social cost of road accidents in Belgium estimated at €11 billion a year

The social cost of road accidents in Belgium amounts to a massive €10.9 billion a year, according to a new study published by Vias, Belgium’s road safety institute.

The report, that examines the immediate and subsequent costs of road accidents, was released to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Accident Victims, held every third Sunday in November.

The institute estimates, looking at 2022 figures, that each road death in Belgium costs society €7 million, with €700,000 for a serious injury and €70,000 for a minor one.

“If we add slight injuries and material damage, we reach a total of €11 billion [for 2022], which reveals the hidden damage of road accidents,” said Vias spokesperson Benoit Godart.

“The estimate by Vias of road cost accidents for Belgian citizens, an enormous burden of nearly €11 billion for 2022, must prompt politicians and all concerned parties to further increase efforts and investments in road safety and safer mobility,” said Belgium’s deputy prime minister and road safety minister Georges Gilkinet.

However, on a note of optimism, Godart said that the number of serious accidents is falling, meaning an improvement in road safety.

“In 2023, compared with 2022, there were 40 fewer deaths and 140 fewer serious injuries. This means not only a reduction in human suffering, but also savings of around €500 million in a single year,” Godart said, noting that investment in road safety benefits the state by reducing accident-related costs.

The study highlights that death – on which no price can be put – and injury are not the only downsides of traffic disasters: “As well as causing enormous human suffering, road accidents have other negative consequences such as material damage, medical costs and incapacity for work,” Vias said.

The research highlighted that there were two cost categories – relating to the victims and to the accidents. Payments linked to the victim include loss of production as well as loss in quality of life due to injury. Costs directly linked to the accident include damage to property and vehicles, administrative charges for hospitals and/or ambulances and insurance payouts.

In Belgium last year, more than 500 people lost their lives in road accidents, including 76 young people, noted the country’s Association of Parents of Road Accident Victims, which organised a rally at Ixelles’ Square du Souvenir last weekend for Romane, a young woman killed by a drunk driver near the Ixelles lakes and also for all road traffic victims.

“Today, we pay tribute to all the victims of road accidents and express our support for those affected. Many of these victims are young and the majority of road accidents could have been avoided,” said the association’s director An Vandeborne.

"In 2023, 501 people lost their lives in road accidents. And 76 of them were young people under the age of 25. So never think that this only happens to other people. They should never be forgotten, because every child has the right to a safe environment.”