Germany: Child road traffic injuries and fatalities rise in 2025

In Germany, a child was injured or killed on the roads every 18 minutes on average during 2025, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office. A total of approximately 29,270 individuals under the age of 15 were involved in traffic accidents, marking a 7% increase in child casualties compared to the previous year.

The number of child fatalities also saw a concerning rise, increasing from 53 in 2024 to 74 in 2025. Analysis of the accidents revealed that 34% of child victims were riding bicycles at the time of the incident. Another 31% were passengers in cars, 20% were pedestrians, and 8% were using e-scooters.

Historically, the number of accidents involving children had been on a downward trend since the early 1990s, when over 50,000 children were involved annually. By 2010, this figure dropped below 30,000, and it had largely stagnated until the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, which saw significantly fewer accidents.

However, the data for 2025 shows a notable increase in fatalities among child car passengers, rising from 21 to 31. Fatalities among child cyclists also increased, from 8 to 13. Worryingly, four children died while using e-scooters, compared to none in 2024. Children aged 6 to 14 were particularly at risk on weekdays between 7 and 8 a.m., coinciding with their usual commute to school.