Drinking, phones and speed: Luxembourg drivers are among the most dangerous in Europe

A new study by Swiss portal Vignetteswitzerland.com, based on data from the European Commission and an ESRA survey, has ranked Luxembourg among the top four countries with the most reckless drivers in Europe. The analysis covered six key factors: road deaths, driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding on motorways, driving while fatigued, using a phone while driving and not wearing seatbelts.

Despite its status as one of the most prosperous countries on the continent, Luxembourg has shown frightening results. Almost 80% of drivers admitted to regularly exceeding the speed limit on motorways - the highest figure of any country in the study. In addition, more than 37 per cent of respondents said they had driven after drinking alcohol. These figures make Luxembourg the absolute leader in Europe on these two parameters.

The country's overall score on the recklessness scale was 65.83 - lower only than Latvia, Austria and Greece. At the same time, countries with less developed infrastructure often showed better results. For example, Latvia topped the rating with a score of 75.83 and a road death rate of 75 deaths per million people. Austria distinguished itself with high levels of speeding and driving after alcohol. In Greece, ignoring seat belts and using phones while driving is particularly common.

As Mattijs Wijnmalen, managing director of Vignetteswitzerland.com, pointed out, what is most alarming is that countries with high quality of life and roads, such as Luxembourg and Finland, have critically high rates of offences that endanger both drivers and others.

When compared to Luxembourg's immediate neighbours, the worst position is occupied by Belgium, which came in ninth place. France ranked 18th and Germany 19th. This confirms: in the heart of Europe, drivers are far from always choosing safe behaviour on the road.