New research from the International Drivers Association has revealed that Switzerland is Europe’s ‘best’ country to drive in. The study analysed several factors surrounding driving in Europe while scoring 33 countries based on four key factors:
- How congested the roads are
- The quality of the roads
- Petrol prices
- How safe driving is
It found that Switzerland is the most car friendly country, with the country scoring highest on the list for its safety – with only 1.71 road traffic deaths per 100,000 people. Switzerland also holds the record of the world’s third highest road quality score of 6.3, despite having a dense road network with 204km of road per 100 km2. 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 Netherlands holds second place on the list, with the country scoring 97.99 out of 100 based on several factors:
- Its dense road network of 332km of road per 100 km2.
- Holding the fifth lowest road traffic deaths, with 2.83 per 100,000 people.
- The best road quality in Europe, with a score of 6.4; the second best in the world.
Coming in third place is Belgium, with the country scoring a high 83.56 due to its dense road network with 388km of road per 100 km2. This is the highest of any European country. There are also only 590 cars per 1,000 people giving it a higher score in that department, due to its uncongested road networks. Denmark takes the fourth position, scoring 79.11 out of 100 based on factors such as:
- A low density of cars on the road with 540 per 1,000 people
- Relatively safe roads with only three road traffic deaths per 100,000 people
- A road quality score of 5.3.
The United Kingdom came in 18th out of the 33 nations studied. This is due to its third-lowest road quality score of 3. However, the UK does have the fourth lowest road traffic deaths in Europe, with 2.81 deaths per 100,000 people. Rounding out the top five is Germany, with a score of 78.40 out of 100. The country saw the seventh lowest road traffic deaths in Europe with 2.98 deaths per 100,000 people; relatively lower petrol prices than other nations; and a decent road quality score of 5.3. 
The study was conducted by the International Drivers Association, which provides an International Driving Permit allowing users to drive or rent a car in over 150 countries.
