Can cars and trucks coexist peacefully on highways? Analyzing the effectiveness of road safety policies in Europe

•We analyze traffic fatalities using a European panel data.•Maximum speed limits and blood–alcohol concentration vary across Europe.•More trucks on the road do not lead to less traffic fatalities.•More cars on the road lead to less traffic fatalities.•Specific strategies for truck drivers may be effective in reducing traffic fatalities. We examine the impact on the traffic accident rate of the interaction between trucks and cars on Europe’s roads using a panel data set that covers the period 1999–2010. We find that rising motorization rates for trucks lead to higher traffic fatalities, while rising motorization rates for cars do not. Empirically, the model we build predicts the positive impact of stricter speed limit legislation for trucks in the reduction of road fatalities. These findings lend support to European strategies and aimed at promoting alternative modes of freight transport, including rail and maritime transport.