Primul accident mortal de mașină din România, în 1911. Victima, unul dintre fondatorii Automobil Club Român • Newsweek România

The first fatal car accident in Romania occurred in 1911, claiming the life of Leon Leonida, a pioneer of Romanian automobilism and co-founder of the Romanian Automobile Club. This tragic event marked the beginning of a concerning trend in road safety, with Romania historically having one of the highest rates of traffic-related deaths in the EU. Despite improvements, dangers on Romanian roads persist due to poor infrastructure and driving habits. Leonida, who was instrumental in promoting automobiles in Romania, died at the age of 29 when his Fiat overturned after a steering failure while driving at 90 km/h. The accident also involved four other passengers who sustained minor injuries.