Preliminary data released Friday by the Statistical Federal Office (Destatis) indicates a concerning rise in traffic-related incidents across Germany during May 2025. A total of 37,400 individuals sustained injuries in road traffic accidents, representing a 4% increase, or 1,600 more injuries, compared to May of the previous year.
Tragically, the number of fatalities also experienced an upward trend. 255 people lost their lives in road traffic accidents in May 2025, a rise of 14 from the same month in 2024.
The overall frequency of accidents also increased. Accidents involving personal injury rose by 1,500 to reach 30,300, a 5% increase. Simultaneously, accidents resulting in property damage climbed by 5,400 to 195,400, marking a 3% rise.
Looking at the period encompassing January to May 2025, German police recorded approximately one million road traffic accidents. This figure is roughly consistent with the number of accidents registered during the corresponding period of the previous year. Within this timeframe, 110,400 accidents resulted in personal injury, an increase of 1.500 or 1%, while 1,018 fatalities were recorded – a number which remains relatively stable compared to the previous year. The number of individuals injured in traffic incidents during this five-month period rose by 1,000, representing a 1% increase, according to Destatis.