Belgian Road Deaths 2025: E-Scooter, Youth Fatalities Surge

Belgium recorded 464 road deaths within 30 days of an accident in 2025, according to final figures released by Statbel, the national statistical office. While this represents a marginal 1.1% decline from 469 deaths in 2024, the data reveals alarming trends beneath the surface: a 275% surge in e-scooter fatalities and a sharp 57.9% increase in deaths among teenagers aged 15 to 19.

A Paradox of Progress

The overall decline in road deaths continues a long-term downward trend from 615 fatalities in 2017. However, the number of injury accidents rose 2.9% to 36,968, and serious injuries climbed 7.1% to 3,211. This paradox — more accidents but fewer deaths — suggests that collisions are becoming less severe, likely due to lower speed limits, better enforcement, and improved vehicle safety technology, as noted by the Vias Institute.

“In 2025, the number of road deaths fell to the lowest level we have ever recorded,” Vias reported in its annual Road Safety Barometer, which recorded 445 deaths using police data. The discrepancy with Statbel’s 464 figure stems from methodological differences: Vias uses police scene data, while Statbel relies on civil registry death certificates within 30 days, capturing additional fatalities that occur after initial police reports.

The E-Scooter Crisis

The most dramatic shift involves electric scooters. E-scooter deaths jumped from 4 in 2024 to 15 in 2025 — a 275% increase — while e-scooter injury accidents rose 34% nationally. In Brussels, the situation was particularly stark: four e-scooter riders died in 2025 compared to none the previous year.

These figures add urgency to ongoing regulatory debates. Brussels has already announced a ban on shared e-scooters starting in 2027, but privately owned scooters remain unregulated. The data underscores growing concerns about micro-mobility safety in urban environments, with fatbikes — wide-tire e-bikes — emerging as a new worry for city planners.

Youth Deaths Spike

Perhaps the most troubling finding is the 57.9% increase in road deaths among 15 to 19 year olds, rising from 19 fatalities in 2024 to 30 in 2025. Deaths among 25 to 29 year olds also climbed 26.7%, from 30 to 38. These increases stand in stark contrast to significant declines in several adult age groups, including 45-49 year olds (-25%) and 50-54 year olds (-45.7%).

According to VRT NWS, the rise in youth fatalities may be linked to increased use of e-scooters and fatbikes among younger demographics, as well as risk-taking behavior. A related RTBF report from August 2025 found that four out of ten teenagers do not always wear seat belts in the back seat.

Brussels: The Outlier Region

While Flanders (241 deaths, -4.7%) and Wallonia (202 deaths, -1.5%) both saw improvements, Brussels-Capital Region recorded 21 road deaths in 2025 — nearly double the 11 fatalities in 2024 and the highest figure since 2022. Brussels is the only region where road deaths increased.

“In absolute figures, these are relatively small numbers, but that is precisely why small fluctuations are clearly visible,” Inge Paemen, spokesperson for Brussels Mobility, told VRT NWS. “That does not change the fact that every road death is one too many.”

Vulnerable Road Users

Cyclists accounted for 18% of all road deaths, with 82 fatalities (48 on bicycles, 33 on e-bikes, and 1 on a speed pedelec). Serious cyclist injuries rose 11.1%. However, pedestrian deaths fell 23.2% to 53 — the lowest number ever recorded nationally. Car occupants remained the largest category with 198 deaths, a figure that remained stable year-over-year.

Policy Response and Forward Look

Federal Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke reiterated the government’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating road deaths by 2050. “Our aim is clear: to strive for zero road deaths on our roads by 2050,” Crucke said, as reported by Vias. The coalition agreement includes stricter penalties for repeat offenders, automated detection of dangerous behavior such as phone use via image analysis, and enhanced prevention programs.

As reported by La Libre Belgique, the data raises pressing questions: Will the Brussels e-scooter ban be extended to cover privately owned scooters? What specific measures will address the youth road death crisis? And how will the rising popularity of fatbikes affect 2026 statistics?

For now, the figures serve as a stark reminder that while overall road safety is improving in Belgium, new mobility trends are creating fresh challenges that demand targeted regulatory responses.