The increase in the death toll is greater in Wallonia (111 killed instead of 63)that in Flanders (113 instead of 99). Ultimately, the number of fatalities is almost as high in Wallonia as in Flanders, while the Walloon Region is less populated. To Brussels, the death toll has risen from 4 to 7.
From 13 to 36 killed on the roads in the province of Namur
In Wallonia, the most significant increase is to be noted in the the province of Namur(increased from 13 to 36 kills). The situation has also deteriorated sharply in the provinces of Luxembourg(from 10 to 18 killed) and from Hainaut(from 19 to 32 killed).
Nearly three times as many pedestrians killed
At the national level, the most worrying trend is observed among pedestrians since number of kills increased from 13 to 35. You have to go back 10 years to find a higher number. “The terrible accident in Strépy (six pedestrians killed) cannot, on its own, explain this very marked increase”, notes Vias.
The number of injury accidents, i.e. accidents in which at least one person is injured, is also on the rise in all Regions: +12% in Wallonia+21% in Flandersand +32% at Bruxelles(20% nationally).
The number of scooter accidents multiplied by 2.5
Vias notes that the number of bodily accidents involving electric scooter users has multiplied by 2.5 (from 339 to 846).
The first half of last year was marked by heavy health measures such as curfews or compulsory teleworking, which partly explains the sudden increase in users killed. The number of road deaths is approaching that of 2019.
“There is therefore no structural decline at the national level as we experienced it a few years ago”, notes Vias. “Once again, this barometer shows the need to do everything possible, in the years to come, to further protect vulnerable users.”