Romania is Europe’s worst country to drive in, new research has revealed.

The study by the International Drivers Association analysed several factors surrounding driving in Europe and scored 33 countries based on how congested the roads are, the quality of the roads, petrol prices, and how safe driving is.

It found that Romania is Europe’s worst country to drive in. The country has 441 cars per 1,000 people, and while not the highest on the list, low road density means roads are likely congested. The country also has high petrol prices at £1.32 per litre, which compared to other countries in Eastern Europe is an expensive rate. These factors, combined with 8.54 road traffic deaths per 100,000 people and a low road quality score of 3 out of 7, mean the country bottoms out on the list with a driving score of 46.04 out of 100.

Bulgaria takes second place on the list, with the country having the second lowest road density out of the top ten, with 18km of road per 100 km and 482 cars per 1,000 people. The country also has 8.59 road traffic deaths per 100,000 people, petrol at £1.22 a litre at a low road quality score of 3.4, adding up to a driving score of 46.89 out of 100.

Coming in third place is Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a low driving score of 47.11 out of 100. The country has the highest road traffic deaths anywhere in Europe, with 10.79 deaths per 100,000 people. There are also 345 cars per 100,000 people in the country, a road quality score of 2.8 and petrol at £1.27 per litre.

Fourth place goes to Moldova, with the nation having the lowest road quality score out of the top ten at 2.6. There are 367 cars per 100,000 people, and the country has the joint lowest petrol prices on the top ten at £1.15 per litre, but factors like low road density bring its score down to 48.68 out of 100.

Rank	Country	Cars per 1,000 people	Road network density (km of road per 100 km2)	Road traffic deaths per 100,000 people (latest data)	Price per litre of petrol	Roads quality score /7 (World Economic Forum)	Driving score /100
1	Romania	441	36	8.54	£1.32	3	46.04
2	Bulgaria	482	18	8.59	£1.22	3.4	46.89
3	Bosnia and Herzegovina	345	45	10.79	£1.27	2.8	47.11
4	Moldova	367	28	6.6	£1.15	2.6	48.68
5	Albania	238	14	9.88	£1.52	3.9	52.96
6	Czech Republic	648	71	5.54	£1.50	3.9	53.44
7	Greece	606	89	6.68	£1.75	4.6	55.63
8	Slovakia	513	80	5.28	£1.48	4	56.77
9	Montenegro	367	56	6.53	£1.15	3.9	57.98
10	Poland	849	136	8.18	£1.25	4.3	58.76

 
 
Rounding up the top five is Albania, receiving a score of 52.96 out of 100. Despite having the lowest road density with 14km of road per 100 km, a low number of cars per 1,000 people with 238, does level this factor out. However, the country has the second highest road traffic deaths per 100,000 people and relatively expensive petrol at £1.52 per litre.

The study also found that Switzerland is the best European country to drive in, with the country scoring highest for its safety, with only 1.71 road traffic deaths per 100,000 people, the world’s third highest road quality score of 6.3, and a dense road network with 204km of road per 100 km. With only 604 cars per 1,000 people, this score indicated a relatively low number of vehicles and lower congestion on the road compared to other European countries.



The study was conducted by the International Drivers Association, a service that can provide you with an International Driving Permit, allowing you to drive or rent a car in over 150 countries.

https://internationaldriversassociation.com/