Belgium implements new road safety measures amid shifting injury statistics

Brussels has reported a significant decrease in road traffic injuries during the first half of 2026. According to Brussels Mobility, the total number of injured persons fell by nearly 20 percent compared to the same period in 2025, marking the lowest level of traffic victims in five years. This decline includes a 20 percent drop in pedestrian injuries, a 15 percent decrease for cyclists, and a 35 percent reduction for electric scooter users. Serious injuries also saw a 34 percent decline.

In response to broader national road safety concerns, Belgian Federal Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke has proposed several new measures to reduce fatalities. These include testing ‘alco-barriers’ at parking lot exits, which would prevent drivers from leaving if they exceed alcohol limits. A pilot project is planned for Hasselt following an experiment at the Werchter festival.

Other proposed initiatives include implementing a zero-tolerance alcohol policy for drivers with less than three years of experience and deploying cameras capable of automatically detecting mobile phone use while driving. The latter measure is expected to face privacy discussions before potential implementation in 2028.