How DEKRA Supports Sustainable and Safe Mobility
Road mobility has changed over the last 100, with advancements in both technology and safety.
DEKRA, a vehicle testing and inspecting organisation, is viewing these advancements as an incentive to continue its efforts.
DEKRA's 18th Road Safety report shows key developments across the previous decades, as well as acknowledging that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done if “Vision Zero” is to be reached.
- Vision Zero is the goal to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the road to zero, with no fatalities and 100% safe arrivals.
- Vision Zero was originally developed in Sweden, but has become a strategy for road safety efforts in many countries around the world.
- The DEKRA Vision Zero Map currently includes 26 countries around the world.
Mobility and sustainability
From the earliest automobiles to today’s highly automated, connected and low-emission vehicles, mobility has mirrored technological progress, societal change and global priorities.
The adaptation and manufacturing of vehicles also includes the urgent need to reduce the environmental and social impact of transport systems.
DEKRA considers road safety a critical component of sustainable mobility, with almost 1.2 million traffic fatalities globally each year.
The 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Marrakesh, Morocco in February 2025, reinforced the need for sustained, coordinated action to protect all road users.
According to Kristian Schmidt, EU Coordinator for Road Safety, it must be ensured “that safety does not become a privilege of the happy few, but that equitable access to safe mobility solutions is guaranteed for all".
Progress through regulation and innovation
Historical data from the DEKRA Road Safety Report 2025 shows a reduction in fatalities in many countries since the 1970s.
In the EU, preliminary figures for 2024 show 19,800 deaths, a 70% decrease from peak levels.
Globally, road traffic crashes result in the deaths of approximately 1.19 million people around each year and leave between 20-50 million people with non-fatal injuries according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Cities around the world are demonstrating the feasibility of "Vision Zero" targets, achieving consecutive years without fatalities.
DEKRA's report says progress has been driven by a combination of regulatory measures, such as seat belt mandates, helmet requirements, child restraint systems and restrictions on drink- and drug-driving, alongside broader advances in vehicle design and infrastructure.
“The successes are undisputed,” says Jann Fehlauer, Executive Vice President of DEKRA Group.
“And yet, politicians, associations and organisations must work together more than ever to ensure safe mobility for everyone at all times.”
Sustainable road safety
DEKRA's report says that sustained investment and policy commitment are required to ensure that safety innovations are widely accessible and that the transition to zero emission transport does not compromise protective standards.
“Financing at national level is also essential for creating and maintaining safe transportation systems that protect lives, promote economic prosperity and enhance overall quality of life,” writes Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) in the report.
“Governments must allocate and invest sufficient resources to address the complex challenges of road safety effectively.”