Abstract
The official use of accident data is described, the possibilities of pan-European comparisons are examined and a future European approach on road accident analysis is discussed. Official national road accident statistics publications have been analysed and compared showing that the analysis is limited by the quantity of data and the limitations of the collection system used in each state. The lack of uniformity and significant differences in the data collection processes restrict comparisons between countries. Thus comparisons can only be carried out for limited accident data characteristics. General reports of accidents from each country and the European Union are compared and their contents summarised in a series of tables.