Vehicle ramming in crowded spaces: Risk epidemiology and implications for management

Abstract

Vehicle ramming has become an increasingly important crowd safety concern in urban environments, yet its epidemiology and operational characteristics remain poorly understood. We compiled and analysed a global database of 180 documented vehicle-ramming incidents involving crowds between 2001 and 2025. The total number of identified incidents more than quadrupled in the most recent decade compared with the first decade of the study period, with nearly 70% of all incidents occurring between 2016 and 2025. Incidents were geographically concentrated, with nearly two-thirds occurring in just five countries: the United States, China, Israel, Germany, and France. Contrary to the common perception t..