© picture alliance / dpa | Thierry Monasse
The World Cup is just around the corner, which is good news for all football fans, but less so for those concerned about road safety. The Belgian traffic institute VIAS has observed a significant increase in traffic accidents on days when the Belgian national team is in action at a major football tournament.
The VIAS Traffic Safety Institute reached this conclusion after analyzing traffic accident statistics from the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany. For example, it was found that significantly more accidents resulting in fatalities and injuries occurred before the start of a major match.
"This may be because at that moment, many drivers are rushing home or to friends’ houses, eager to arrive in time for kickoff," a spokesperson for the institute told Het Nieuwsblad. One hour before kickoff of a match featuring the Red Devils, the number of accidents rose by as much as 40 percent.
The increase is also particularly striking after a football match:“Starting three hours after the match, the number of accidents increased by an average of 50 percent. Five hours after the match, the increase was as high as 70 percent, compared to a similar day without a match,” said the spokesperson.
Alcohol also plays a role in these rising percentages. In general, 17 percent of drivers in Belgium are under the influence of alcohol at the time of a traffic accident. After a match involving the Belgian national team, this percentage rises to 18 percent.
So be careful if you’re on the roads in Belgium in the coming weeks: the Red Devils’ matches at the 2026 World Cup are scheduled for Monday, June 15, at 9 p.m. against Egypt; Sunday, June 21, at 9 p.m. against Iran; and Saturday, June 26, at 5 a.m. against New Zealand.
Illustration picture: © picture alliance / dpa | Thierry Monasse