Compared with 2011, there were less victims of accidents, especially in the 15 to 20 and the over 80 age groups. However, there were more victims in 2012 among car passengers in the 20 to 60 and the 60 to 80 age groups. More than half of the cycling fatalities in 2012 were over 65. The number of pedestrian traffic fatalities dropped 8%, from 74 to 68.
The number of traffic fatalities in Belgium dropped by 13% according to preliminary figures. A drop of such magnitude has never before been registered. The number of “dead on the spot” cases fell from 775 in 2011 to 672 in 2012 – a drop of 13.3%. These involve persons who died on location immediately after the accident or otherwise prior to admission to hospital. This does not include the traffic fatalities that died within 30 days of the accident. According to the Belgian Traffic Safety Institute, the total number of fatalities for all of Belgium may end up being 750. In 2011, the official number of Belgian traffic fatalities was 858. Cycling fatalities do not generally follow this falling trend. In 2012 there were 8 more cycling fatalities in Flanders than in 2011. Compared to 2004, however, the trend shows a decline. The number of registered accidents with injuries fell by 5.8% and the registered number of injured cyclists fell by 7.3%.