In February 2024, a fatal accident in Strasbourg resulted in two deaths. Recent estimates from the Road Safety Authority published on Monday reveal that 254 people were killed on roads in metropolitan France in March, representing a 31% increase compared to the same month last year (194 deaths). The National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR) also reported that 1,164 people were seriously injured in March 2024, a 10% increase from 2023. The comparison between the two months showed a significant increase in the number of motorists killed (120, up 29), as well as an increase in fatalities among motorcyclists (60, up 9) and cyclists (13, up 5).
Florence Guillaume, the interministerial delegate for road safety, commented that March had been particularly tragic on the roads, and the first quarter’s overall death toll brought the numbers back to those of 2019. The statistical service of the organization has not yet been able to determine the causes of these figures and has refrained from speculating on exceptional weather conditions, traffic situations, or differing numbers of weekends (4 in March 2023, 5 in 2024) that may have played a role. This increase in road fatalities contrasts with a slight decrease in deaths in 2023, making the first quarter of 2024 the deadliest since 2019.
The significant rise in road deaths mainly affected rural roads and impacted all age groups, particularly young people aged 18-24 (40 deaths, 23 more than last year). In urban areas, there was also an increase in pedestrian, electric personal mobility device (EPDM) users, and motorcyclist fatalities. Notably, the overseas territories saw a 14% reduction in deaths (18 fatalities) compared to March 2023. These statistics are a cause for concern for Jean-Yves Lamant, president of the League against Road Violence, who expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to implement measures to protect French citizens on the roads.
The increase in road fatalities has reignited concerns about road safety measures and the government’s response to addressing the issue. Lamant criticized the government for prioritizing popular policies over effective road safety measures, ultimately leading to a tragic annual death toll on the roads. With 12.85% of the article left unread, the continuation is reserved for subscribers, indicating that further analysis and discussions on road safety initiatives and policy changes will continue to be relevant and necessary in addressing the rising number of road fatalities in France.
