Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Security, Transport

In 2014, there were 25,700 road deaths in the EU – about 70 per day – which is a major setback for the bloc's goal to halve the number of road deaths.

"2014 was a very bad year in terms of improving road safety on European roads," EU Transport Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc told a news conference.

Compared with 2013, the number of road deaths decreased by only 1%.

Brussels has set a target for 2020 of halving the number of road deaths from the toll of 31,400 seen in 2010.

To reach the 2020 goal, an annual reduction of 8% a year is needed, Bulc said, adding that eight% reductions were achieved in 2012 and 2013.

Rates varied across the member states, with the worst in eastern Europe.

The lowest fatality rates are in Britain, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden, which each account for less than 30 deaths per million inhabitants, the commission said.

On the other hand, there are more than 90 dead per million inhabitants in Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania, it added.

39% of road traffic deaths in Latvia are among pedestrians, which is the second highest proportion in the EU.